High Blood Pressure Can Be Fatal: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Nov 13, 2021
High Blood Pressure Can Be Fatal: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Your blood pressure is measured by the amount of blood that is passing through your blood vessels. It also depends on the resistance your blood is meeting when your heart is pumping.
High blood pressure or hypertension happens when the force of blood pushing through your vessels is too high and it happens consistently.
What exactly is high blood pressure?
More resistance for blood flow is created by narrow blood vessels, also called arteries. There is more resistance if your arteries are too narrow. Your blood pressure will be raised in this scenario. The increased pressure can cause health issues in the long run including heart disease.
High blood pressure or hypertension is a disease that is very common these days. Hypertension typically develops over a period of several years. There are usually no noticeable high blood pressure symptoms. But even without signs and symptoms, high blood pressure can damage your body vastly. This damage may occur in the blood vessels and other organs, this may include the brain, heart, eyes, and kidneys.
Early detection of high blood pressure is important. Regular high blood pressure readings are helpful for your physician for detection of any changes. If your blood pressure is elevated, your doctor may want to keep a check on your blood pressure. Your doctor may do this monitoring over a period of a few weeks to see if the number stays elevated or falls back to normal levels.
High blood pressure treatment includes both prescription medication as well as adapting a healthy lifestyle. If the condition is not treated, it could lead to serious health issues. This could include heart attack and stroke.
The Reasons or the Causes of Developing High Blood Pressure
Two types of high blood pressure are there.
Primary High Blood Pressure
Essential high blood pressure may develop due to a number of factors:
Genes – Some people are predisposed to hypertension genetically. This may be from gene mutations. This may also be from genetic abnormalities inherited from your parents.
Age – People who are 65 years or older are more at risk for hypertension.
Obesity – Obesity can be the cause of multiple cardiac issues, including hypertension.
Consumption of Alcohol – High consumption of alcohol may increase the risk for high blood pressure.
Living a sedentary lifestyle – If you are not exercising regularly or you are physically unfit, it may result in high blood pressure.
Living with diabetes or living with metabolic syndrome – Individuals diagnosed with either diabetes or metabolic syndrome are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
High Sodium intake – There is a small association between daily high sodium intake. An intake of more than 1.5g a day can be a cause of hypertension.
Secondary High Blood Pressure
Secondary hypertension can occur quickly. It can often become much more severe than primary hypertension. Several conditions, trusted Source that may cause secondary hypertension include:
- Kidney disease
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Congenital heart defects
- Problems with your thyroid
- Side effects of medications
- Use of illegal drugs
- Chronic consumption of alcohol
- Adrenal gland problems
- Certain endocrine tumors
If you have recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure, your treatment plan will vary based on several factors. These factors include the severity of your high blood pressure, and what medication your doctor thinks will work best for you.
