Types of Hypertension Archives

 

Educate your patient about Hypertension 

What is hypertension?                               

Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure occurs when the blood pressing on the inside of the artery (blood vessels) is higher than normal. Untreated hypertension can have serious consequences including a higher risk for heart attack, or strokes, or kidney problems. Compared with people with high blood pressure, people with uncontrolled high blood pressure are….

Three times more likely to develop coronary heart disease. Seven times more likely to have a stroke.

 Because people with hypertension do not feel sick, it is sometimes referred to the (silent killer).

What causes hypertension?

About 90-95 % of the cases oh high blood pressure has no known cause. But we do know that there are some things that increase your chances of developing this disease. These are called risk factors.

Risk factors you can control

Obesity – people with a body mass index of 30 or higher are more likely to develop high blood pressure Eating too much salt Alcohol Lack of exercise Stress

 Risk factors you can not control

Race-African Americans develop high blood pressure more often than Caucasian. Age –The older you get, the greater your chance of developing high blood pressure. Heredity –A tendency to have high blood pressure runs in families.

 High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. That is why it is called the 'silent killer'

 Measuring blood pressure:

There are two numbers referred to when measuring a person’s blood pressure, the systolic or top number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The “Diastolic” or bottom number measures he pressure while your heart rests between rests. In a blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg (millimeter of mercury), the 120 is the systolic and the 80 is the diastolic.

Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg. Blood pressure of 120-139/80-89 is considered “prehypertension”. If you are an adult and your blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or higher, you have high blood pressure. If you have diabetes or kidney disease, your doctor will want your blood pressure to be lower than 130/80 mm Hg .If your blood pressure goes above this threshold and stay there, you have high blood pressure.

What can be done to treat hypertension? 

Hypertension is treated with lifestyle changes first, then with medication if that is not enough. Lifestyle changes to help lower your blood pressure include,

Weight reduction: Many people with high blood pressure are also overweight. Often when people lose weight, their blood pressure drops automatically. By losing weight you will help your blood pressure and help yourself stay healthy in other ways, too. Sometimes eating less sodium can help lower blood pressure. If this might help you, your doctor will recommend a low-salt diet. This means you will have to avoid salty foods and Cut down on how much salt you use in cooking and at the table. Decrease your caffeine intake Physical activity: Should be part of your daily program. A minimum of 30 minutes is of physical activity on most days of the week is recommended. Learning to control your stress through counseling Quit smoking

What about drug treatment?

There are many types of medication that are used to teat hypertension, there are referred to as ‘antihypertensive ‘. Most of these medications are just taken once a day and have few side effects.

If you need to take medication for hypertension, you will need to take them for the rest of your life; also many people will need more than one of these medications to get their own goal blood pressure.

Many types of these medications are available for controlling blood pressure. Some get rid of excess fluid and salt. Others open up narrowed blood vessels. Still others prevent blood vessels from constricting and narrowing.

Here are some drugs to treat high blood pressure.

Diuretics Angiotensin –Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors Angiotensin-2 Receptor Antagonist Beta Blockers Calcium Channel Blocker Alpha blockers

 

For more information please ask your doctor

 

Pushpa, MSN


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Asymptomatic Hypertension Information

Hypertension is one of the most common worldwide diseases afflicting humans. Hypertension also known as high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into the arteries (blood vessels), which carry the blood throughout the body. Blood pressure measurements are the result of the force of the blood produced by the heart and the size and condition of the arteries. Many factors can affect blood pressure, including how much water and salt you have in your body, the condition of your kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels, and the levels of different body hormones. High blood pressure can affect all types of people. Hypertension is affects mostly age 55, 90 percent chance of developing it at some point in your life.

Hypertension is most common symptoms headaches, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, facial flushing or tinnitus. Malignant hypertension (or accelerated hypertension) is distinct as a late phase in the condition, and may present with headaches, blurred vision and end-organ damage. Hypertension is damage the heart and blood vessels, and can eventually lead to several other conditions, including stroke ,heart failure ,heart attack ,kidney failure and vision problems. Hypertension is typically treated by making changes in your lifestyle, and with drug therapy. Lifestyle changes include losing weight, stopping smoking, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough exercise, especially aerobic exercise. ACE inhibitors stop the production of a hormone called angiotensin II that makes the blood vessels narrow.

Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists work in a similar way to ACE inhibitors. Vasodilators medications prevent the muscles from tightening Beta-blockers block the effect of the hormone adrenaline and the sympathetic nervous system on the body. This relaxes the heart so that it beats more slowly, lowering the blood pressure. Alpha-blockers cause the blood vessels to relax and widen. Combining them with beta-blockers has a greater effect on the resistance in the circulation. Calcium-channel blockers reduce muscle tension in the arteries, expanding them and creating more room for the blood flow. Diuretics help the body get rid of excess salt and fluids via the kidneys. Weight reduction and regular aerobic exercise are also recommended to treating mild to moderate hypertension.

Asymptomatic Hypertension Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Avoid smoking.

2. Stopping smoking.

3. Eating a healthy diet is also recommend.

4. If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control.

5. Hypertension is typically treated by making changes in your lifestyle.

6. Weight reduction and regular aerobic exercise are also recommended.

7. Relaxation therapy, such as meditation can be an additional method of ameliorating hypertension.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for Women Health. She also writes articles for Early Pregnancy and Pregnancy Calendar.

Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension

Hypertension is extremely common in people with type 2 diabetes, affecting approximately 20-60% of all patients, depending on age, ethnicity, and body weight. The causes of this type of high-blood pressure are unknown, but are likely to be a complex combination of genetic, environmental, and other factors.  A number of genetic factors or interactions between genes play a major role in essential hypertension and many experts believe that specific chromosomes house the genes responsible for blood pressure regulation.

Whereas kidney damage is generally the cause of high blood pressure in type 1 diabetes, obesity and insulin resistance are the factors associated with hypertension in type 2 diabetes.  Obesity is common in both type 2 diabetes and hypertension and clinical testing indicates that obesity is the one common element linking insulin, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. However, studies have found a stronger association between hypertension and insulin resistance in thin patients as well as overweight people with type 2 diabetes.

The development of hypertension in patients with diabetes is particularly harmful, as it is responsible for up to 75% of diabetic cardiovascular complications, including coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke. Hypertension is also thought to play a significant role in the development of retinopathy (eye damage), nephropathy (kidney disease), and possibly neuropathy (nerve damage).

The gas nitric oxide also plays a predominant role in hypertension.  It can be produced in the body, affecting the smooth muscle cells that line blood vessels by keeping them relaxed and flexible. It may also help prevent blood clotting. Low levels of nitric oxide have been observed in people with high blood pressure (particularly in African Americans) and may be a significant factor in essential hypertension.

Clinical testing and research has explored the benefits of lowering blood pressure in individuals with diabetes, such as a reduction in cardiovascular disease, stroke, or nephropathy events. In older individuals with type 2 diabetes, females in particular, the incidence of heart failure is rapidly increasing, and hypertension is often the primary cause.  Additionally, aside from diabetes, hypertension is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).  Coexisting hypertension and diabetes is a common clinical scenario that can ignite a vicious cycle of rising blood pressure, increasing renal damage, and increased cardiovascular morbidity.  Treatment of hypertension often requires multiple drugs to effectively minimize and prevent complications of diabetes. In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the impact of blood pressure control on micro vascular and macro vascular health may be equal to or even greater than that of strict glycemic control.

Those who have type 2 diabetes must also be aware of secondary hypertension, which has recognizable causes that are usually treatable or reversible.  There are a number of medical conditions that can cause secondary high blood pressure.  The most common of which is kidney disease, although it occurs more often in older diabetics.  Sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing briefly ceases repeatedly during sleep, is also highly associated with hypertension. A weak but still higher than normal association with high blood pressure has even been observed in those who snore or have mild sleep apnea. The link between sleep apnea and hypertension is thought to be largely due to obesity, but major studies are finding a higher rate of hypertension in people with sleep apnea regardless of their weight. Treating sleep apnea with a device known as nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may have modest benefits on blood pressure as well.  Additionally, some medical conditions may contribute to temporary hypertension such as cirrhosis, pregnancy, and Cushing's disease.

To help temporarily aid blood-pressure, people with type 2 diabetes can attain certain prescription and over-the-counter medication.  This includes cough medicines that contain pseudo ephedrine, oral contraceptives, corticosteroids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen.  Other causes of secondary hypertension in type 2 diabetics include stress and vigorous exercise, as well as caffeine, cigarettes, and alcohol, all of which could increase the risk of stroke if not limited.

Diabetic helping Diabetic's | Arif Rahim | CheapDiabetesTestStrips.com

Information on Hypertension

Hypertension definitions

Before you look into the cause of your hypertension, you need to understand the two main types of high blood pressure being primary hypertension (otherwise called essential hypertension) and secondary hypertension.

Primary hypertension

The most common form of high blood pressure is called Primary or Essential Hypertension. The main causes are genetic – the bad news is that if one or both your parents suffer from blood pressure problems, your chances of suffering from this illness increase dramatically.

A diet high in fats, bad cholesterol and salt will also increase your risks of suffering from hypertension. This type of diet also leads to increased weight problems and clogged arteries – neither condition being good for your blood pressure readings.

People who drink and smoke to excess will also increase their risk of primary hypertension. Smoking not only removes the oxygen from your blood but it also leaves a residue which clogs your arteries. Your body needs to work harder to get the blood around the system. Drinking heavily will dehydrate your body – the main component of your body is water. When you are dehydrated your arteries constrict which puts pressure on the heart muscle when it is trying to pump the blood through.

Secondary Hypertension

This is the lesser known type of high blood pressure. By virtue of its name, you can sense that usually this type of blood pressure problem is directly related to something else such as another health problem. It can also be caused as a result of taking medication not just prescription drugs but over the counter remedies and of course illegal substances.

In some women, pregnancy will cause blood pressure problems. This condition is known as pre-eclampsia and can be fatal if not properly controlled. It is because of this condition that pregnant woman are closely monitored as one of the first signs of this complication is protein in urine or an increase in blood pressure. Any pregnant woman who complains of swelling feet, headaches or changes in vision should contact their doctor immediately.

In fact, high blood pressure can be caused by a range of illnesses not least of which are diabetes, kidney disease or thyroid problems. If your doctor discovers increased blood pressure readings at your next exam, you are very likely to be subjected to a range of tests to discover, if possible, the exact cause and type of your hypertension.

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