Hypertension

Hypertension Questions and Answers

What is hypertension?

Hypertension has nothing to do with tension or anxiety. It relates to the pressure of the blood within the blood vessels. When that pressure is permanently raised above the upper limit of normal (160/95), then the condition is called `Hypertension'.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of high blood pressure include throbbing headaches, often at the back of the head, attacks of dizzyness, blurred vision, and maybe shortness of breath and tightness in the chest on exertion as a result of secondary effects upon the heart.

Unfortunately, many people do not know that they have high blood pressure until it causes problems within the body such as a stroke, or heart attack. When blood pressure is measured, the pulse is listened to at the front of the elbow when the pulse is first heard. This reading is known as the systolic pressure. Then, when the sound of the pulse disappears, the reading is known as the diastolic pressure. That's why blood pressure readings are given as two numbers e.g 160(systolic)/95(diastolic).

Who gets hypertension?

Hypertension affects 20% of the population and is more common in men than women. It affects the middle aged and elderly more commonly than young people. Because hypertension is such a serious and often silent condition, everyone should have their blood pressure checked every five years.

What causes it?

About 90% of people with hypertension have no obvious reason for it. This condition is called Essential Hypertension. Those who are prone to this type of hypertension are smokers, those with a family history of the condition, the overweight, excess alcohol drinkers, those who don't exercise and those under a high degree of long term stress.

In about 10% of cases, specific causes are found, such as, kidney disorders, diabetes, disorders of the adrenal glands, pre-eclampsia (a condition of pregnancy), and certain drugs such as the oral contaceptive pill. Some drugs used in the treatment of arthritis, known as non steroidal anti-inflammatories are also known to cause hypertension.

How is hypertension treated?

Initially, heavy drinkers must reduce their alcohol intake, those who are overweight must slim down and smokers must stop smoking. Regular exercise and dietary salt restriction is to be recommended for everyone with hypertension.

As a first line treatment, your doctor will probably start you on a diuretic, which is a tablet to pass excess fluid out of the body. Various `antihypertensive' drugs may also be considered, including `beta blockers' or `calcium antagonists' and the newer `ACE inhibitors'. Recent research suggests that the newer treatments reduced the chances of the patient developing diabetes, which is a risk in this case. Talk to your doctor for more information. Whatever the treatment offered, the aim is to produce good effective control of the blood pressure so that it is kept within the normal range, without the patient having to suffer any unwanted side effects from their treament.

Further information can be found at:

The Stroke Association http://www.stroke.org.uk
IMPORTANT NOTICE : This content is from the Dr Chris Steele personal archive and is provided for convenience only. Information contained here may no longer agree with the most up to date medical advice. Please check with a medical professional before taking any action.

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