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A common illness that damages the body's arteries is high blood pressure. Some refer to it as hypertension. The force of blood against the arterial walls is constantly too much when you have high blood pressure. Pumping blood requires more effort from the heart.

Magnesium, or millimeters of mercury, is used to assess blood pressure. Hypertension is generally defined as a blood pressure measurement of 130/80 mm Hg or more.

There are four broad classifications for blood pressure according to the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Normal is the category for ideal blood pressure.

• A typical blood pressure reading. Blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg.
• Increased blood pressure. The bottom number is below, not over, 80 mm Hg, while the top number falls between 120 and 129 mm Hg.
• Hypertension in stage 1. Either the top number falls between 130 and 139 mm Hg, or the bottom number falls between 80 and 89 mm Hg.
• Hypertension in Stage 2.Either the top number, 140 mm Hg, or the bottom number, 90 mm Hg, is higher.

An emergency or crisis related to hypertension is defined as blood pressure greater than 180/120 mm Hg. Individuals with these blood pressure values should seek emergency medical attention.

Heart attacks, strokes, and other major health issues are more likely to occur when high blood pressure is left untreated. It is imperative that, beginning at age 18, you have a blood pressure check performed at least every 2 years. Certain individuals require checks more frequently.

It is possible to prevent and cure high blood pressure with healthy lifestyle choices like quitting smoking, exercising, and maintaining a balanced diet. To address hypertension, some people require medication.

Symptoms

Although blood pressure measurements can reach dangerously high levels, most persons with high blood pressure do not exhibit any symptoms. Long periods of time without any symptoms can be spent with high blood pressure.

A small number of hypertensive individuals might have:

• Sore throats
• Breathing difficulties
• Bleeding noses

However, these symptoms aren't specific. They usually don't occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage.

When to see a doctor

An essential component of general healthcare is blood pressure screening. Your age and general health will determine how frequently you should get your blood pressure tested.

Beginning at age 18, request a blood pressure check from your physician at least every two years. Request a yearly blood pressure check if you are 40 years of age or older, or if you are 18 to 39 years old and at high risk of high blood pressure.

If you have high blood pressure or other heart disease risk factors, your doctor may probably advise more regular measurements.

As part of their annual physicals, children three years old and higher may have their blood pressure taken.

If you don't routinely see a healthcare professional, you might be able to get a free blood pressure check at a health resource fair or other places in your neighborhood. Moreover, several pharmacies and shops provide free blood pressure monitors. Many factors, like the appropriate size of the cuff and machine operation, affect how accurate these devices are. Request guidance on the use of public blood pressure monitors from your healthcare physician.

Causes

The volume of blood the heart pumps and the resistance of the blood's passage through the arteries are the two factors that influence blood pressure. The blood pressure increases with the amount of blood the heart pumps and the narrower the arteries.

There are two main types of high blood pressure.

Primary hypertension, also called essential hypertension Most adults' high blood pressure has no known cause. Primary hypertension, also known as essential hypertension, is the term used to describe this kind of elevated blood pressure. It usually takes years for it to develop gradually. High blood pressure is more likely when there is atherosclerosis, or plaque accumulation in the arteries.

Secondary hypertension

There is an underlying aetiology for this kind of hypertension. Compared to primary hypertension, it typically manifests suddenly and raises blood pressure. Secondary hypertension can result from the following illnesses and medications:

• Adrenal gland cancers;
• Congenital heart abnormalities, or difficulties with blood vessels that exist from birth
• Prescription medications such as birth control tablets, painkillers, cough and cold remedies, and others
• Illegal substances, including amphetamines and cocaine
• Diseases of the kidney
• Issues with the thyroid

Sometimes just getting a health checkup causes blood pressure to increase. This is called white coat hypertension.

Risk factors

High blood pressure has many risk factors, including:

• The age.As people age, their risk of high blood pressure rises. High blood pressure is more common in men up to the age of 64. After the age of 65, women are more prone to have high blood pressure.
• Gender. Black persons are disproportionately likely to have high blood pressure. Compared to white people, Black people experience it sooner in life.
• Ancestral history. If you have a parent or sibling who has high blood pressure, your chances of developing high blood pressure are increased.
• Being overweight or obese. Changes in the kidneys, blood vessels, and other bodily organs are brought on by being overweight. Blood pressure is often raised by these modifications. Obesity and being overweight increase the risk of heart disease and its associated risk factors, including high cholesterol.
• Not enough exercise.Gaining weight might result from not exercising. Elevated body weight increases the chance of hypertension. Additionally, inactive individuals typically have greater heart rates.
• Smoking or vaping.For a brief period, vaping, smoking, and chewing tobacco all cause blood pressure to rise quickly. Smoking tobacco damages the lining of blood vessels and hastens the artery-hardening process. Ask your healthcare professional for tips on how to stop smoking if you currently smoke.
• Excessive salt. The accumulation of sodium, or salt, in the body can lead to fluid retention. Blood pressure rises as a result.
• Decreased potassium content. In the body's cells, potassium helps maintain a balance of salt. It is crucial for heart health to have an appropriate potassium balance. A diet deficient in potassium or certain medical problems, such as dehydration, may be the cause of low potassium levels.
• Excessive alcohol intake.Particularly among men, alcohol consumption has been connected to higher blood pressure. Stress, too. Blood pressure may momentarily rise in response to high amounts of stress. Additional spikes in blood pressure might result from stress-related behaviors including binge eating, smoking, or drinking alcohol.
• A few persistent illnesses. Hypertension can be caused by a number of illnesses, including diabetes, kidney disease, and sleep apnea.
• Being a bride. Hypertension can occur during pregnancy.

Adults are more likely than children to have high blood pressure. However, high blood pressure can also occur in children. Kidney or cardiac issues can be the cause of high blood pressure in children. However, an increasing percentage of children's high blood pressure is brought on by lifestyle choices including poor eating and inactivity.

Complications

High blood pressure puts too much pressure on artery walls, which can harm organs and blood vessels. The harm increases with blood pressure and the length of time it remains uncontrolled.

The following consequences can result from uncontrolled high blood pressure:

• A cardiac arrest or stroke. A heart attack, stroke, or other issues may result from the arteries being harder and thicker as a result of high blood pressure or other circumstances.
• The aneurysm. Aneurysms can develop when a blood artery weakens and enlarges due to high blood pressure. A ruptured aneurysm may pose a serious threat to life.
• A heart attack. The heart must pump blood more forcefully when blood pressure is high. The heart's pumping chamber walls thicken as a result of the strain. We refer to this disease process as left ventricular hypertrophy. Heart failure results when the heart can no longer adequately pump blood to meet the body's demands.
• Kidney-related issues. The kidneys' blood arteries may weaken or narrow as a result of high blood pressure. Kidney damage could result from this.
• Eye-related issues. Thicker, narrower, or ruptured blood vessels in the eyes might be a result of high blood pressure. Loss of vision may follow from this.
• Syndrome Metabolic. This syndrome is a collection of metabolic problems. It deals with the erratic breakdown of glucose, another name for sugar. Elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good") cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, and increased waist circumference are all symptoms of the syndrome. Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke are disorders that increase your risk of developing these illnesses.
• Adjustments to comprehension or memory. Learning, memory, and cognitive function may be impacted by uncontrolled hypertension.
• Dementia.Insufficient blood supply to the brain may be caused by narrowed or clogged arteries. A specific kind of dementia known as vascular dementia may result from this. Vascular dementia can potentially result from a stroke that stops blood supply to the brain.

Hypertension can be controlled no matter what the cause. It is important that you see your doctor at regular intervals and get the blood pressure checked and treated. A hypertensive individual can live a healthy, active and normal life provided a proper lifestyle is followed and medications are taken regularly as per medical advice. Please do not try to self- medicate yourself and do not change or stop medication without the advice of your treating doctor.