HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE-:
High blood pressure is a condition in which the force of the blood against the wall of the artery is so high that it eventually causes health problems such as heart disease. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood the heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in the arteries. The more blood the heart pumps and the narrower the arteries, the higher are the blood pressure.
Symptoms of high blood pressure-:
The condition is asymptomatic in most of the cases, even if the reading of the blood pressure reaches dangerously high level. Although some people with early stage high blood pressure may have dull headaches, dizzy spells or few nosebleeds. These signs and symptoms do not occur until the high blood pressure level has reached a sever stage which is life threatening.
Causes of high blood pressure-:
The two types of high blood pressure are:
Primary (essential) hypertension
There is no cause identified in most of the adults.
This type of high blood pressure develops gradually over the time.Secondary hypertension-:
Some cases of high blood pressure are due to an underlying condition. This type of blood pressure appears suddenly and is higher than primary hypertension. Various conditions can lead to secondary hypertension. These may include:
? Kidney problems
? Adrenal gland tumors
? Certain defects in blood vessels (congenital)
? Medications such as birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs
? Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines
Treatment of high blood pressure-:
Lifestyle modifications can help in going a long way towards controlling high blood pressure. But in some cases, life style changes are not enough. The doctor may prescribe medications along with diet and exercise to lower the blood pressure levels. The selection of medication entirely depends on the stage of high blood pressure and if there are other health problems.
Medications to treat high blood pressure include-:
? Thiazide diuretics
? Beta blockers
? Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
? Angiotensin II receptor blockers
? Calcium channel blockers
? Renin inhibitors
If the blood pressure does not get controlled by combination of the above drugs, the doctor may prescribe-:
? Alpha blockers
? Alpha-beta blockers
? Central-acting agents
? Vasodilators
Once the blood pressure is under control, the doctor may suggest taking a daily aspirin to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disorders. Lifestyle changes to treat high blood pressure are essentially required even if the doctor has prescribed medications. These changes may include eating a healthier diet with less salt, exercising more, quitting smoking and losing weight.
Resistant hypertension-:
In case the blood pressure does not lower even after taking three kinds of medication, it means that the patient has resistant hypertension. This doesn?t mean that one can never control the blood pressure levels. If the doctor is able to find the underlying condition behind resistant hypertension, there are good chances that it can be controlled.
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