Hypertension

Hypertension

Hypertension can affect the blood (high blood pressure) and other parts of the body including the eyes (ocular hypertension). Hypertension is when the pressure on the walls of the arteries becomes higher than the recommended level. Hypertension is usually undetectable until it leads to serious complications such as heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure and stroke.

Pulmonary Hypertension Causes

Pulmonary hypertension refers to high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries. The pulmonary arteries which run from your heart directly to your lungs and back carry oxygen from your lungs directly to your heart. Pulmonary hypertension is usually the symptom of other underlying conditions (secondary pulmonary hypertension) such as congestive heart failure, blood clots, rheumatoid arthritis and emphysema. 

Hypertension Symptoms

The initial symptoms of hypertension are virtually undetectable, and therefore go unnoticed for millions of people worldwide. In many cases, pulmonary hypertension is found earlier than regular hypertension (high blood pressure) because other symptoms of the underlying cause occur. Some early symptoms of hypertension include:

•    Nausea
•    Dizziness
•    Headaches
•    Blurred Vision

Because these symptoms are rather generic, it is important that you check your blood pressure every couple of months. Checking your blood pressure is as easy as seeing your doctor, visiting a pharmacy (many have them for use free of charge) or buying a home blood pressure kit. Blood pressure is measured I mg /Hg (millimetres of mercury) and is separated into two numbers: systolic and diastolic. Systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure on the arterial walls when you heart is pumping blood through your arteries. Diastolic pressure refers to the pressure on the arterial walls when you heart is between pumps (and is therefore a lower number). If your systolic blood pressure is over 140, or your diastolic pressure is over 90, you may have high blood pressure or hypertension.

Long Term Symptoms

If you have chronic hypertension (continuous high blood pressure for a prolonged amount of time), you are at risk for the following symptoms and conditions:

•    Heart Failure
•    Heart attack
•    Kidney Failure
•    Stroke
•    Aneurysms
•    Vision Loss

Hypertension Treatment

Treating hypertension can be as simple as changing your diet. Unbelievably, many people who know they have hypertension continue to eat the same diet until serious symptoms occur such as heart failure or kidney failure. Below are some do-it-yourself home remedies for hypertension:

•    Diet: Fatty foods and foods high in cholesterol can create a hard plaque like coating in your arteries. These coatings force the blood to be ‘squeezed through’, thus raising the pressure on the arterial walls and causing high blood pressure or hypertension. Cutting down on fatty foods and foods high in LDL cholesterol can decrease your high blood pressure. Foods like whole milk, cheese, salad dressing, fried foods and red meat all contain high levels of fat and/or cholesterol.

•    Diet: Consider substituting red meat for fish or skinless chicken or turkey. Substitute milks cheeses and salad dressings for the low fat options. Switch from margarine or butter to butter substitutes, or simply lower your intake.

•    Diet: Eat leafy green vegetables, and various fruits instead of reaching for the ice cream. Whole grains and various vegetables are high in fibre and vitamins and minerals, with little to know fat or cholesterol.

•    Sodium: Salt is directly linked to hypertension, so cut out salt completely from the dinner table. When cooking, use smaller amounts of salt than you normally would. When shopping, read the labels for sodium content, you may be surprised to see that virtually everything you eat has sodium. Choose products with the least amount of sodium.

•    Alcohol: Alcohol has been linked to hypertension, particularly those who ingest more than one alcoholic beverage a day. Cutting out alcohol completely can help drastically lower high blood pressure or hypertension.

•    Smoking: Avoid smoking. Besides causing serious illnesses such as cancer and lung disease, smoking contributes to high blood pressure.

•    Birth Control: Many women who take birth control notice and increase in their blood pressure. If you take birth control, check your blood pressure. Alternatives may include having your partner use birth control instead.

•    Exercise: Exercise, the wonder cure, can help lower your blood pressure for good. Exercise helps lower cholesterol and gets your body back in shape. (Obese individuals have up to three times high chances of getting hypertension) Even if you simply walk once a day around the block, it’s a great start. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce high blood pressure and keep it down.

Remember, all of the above treatments can be completed by you without any outside help. Choosing to monitor your diet and exercise regularly will not only lower your blood pressure, but will significantly raise your health overall, including mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.