Hypertension
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Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, is where your heart has to work harder than it should to get blood around the body.
If left untreated, it can cause serious health issues. Talk to us to get expert help and advice, and we can help to find a treatment that works for you.
Hypertension is a health condition in which the force of blood against the walls of your arteries is too high. This can damage your arteries and increase the risk of heart, kidney and other health problems.
Blood flows from the heart to different parts of the body through blood vessels. With every heartbeat, the heart pumps blood into the vessels. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood flowing through your blood vessels and the resistance the blood faces when the heart is pumping it. The higher the blood pressure, the harder the heart has to work to pump blood.
The chances of suffering from hypertension increases with age. You will also be at higher risk of having high blood pressure if you lead an unhealthy lifestyle, such as being overweight, not getting enough exercise, having a poor diet, smoking or drinking.
You’ll also be at a higher risk of suffering from hypertension if you are of African or Black Caribbean descent or live in a deprived area.
Hypertension is very common. In 2010, it was estimated that around 31% of the world’s adult population had hypertension - some 1.4 billion people.
In the same study, it was found that the amount of people with hypertension in high-income countries is decreasing, whilst in low and middle income countries, the number is increasing quite rapidly. This means that in large swatches of the world, hypertension is becoming an ever-more common issue.
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Hypertension can occur due to many factors, such as: stress, unhealthy choices in your diet and lifestyle (like having food rich in fat and salt), smoking, drinking too much alcohol or lack of physical activity.
Besides these factors, some chronic medical conditions like diabetes, obesity, kidney problems and high cholesterol may also cause high blood pressure. You might also be at risk of having hypertension if any of your family members, especially your parents, have it.
High blood pressure is sometimes referred to as a ‘silent killer’ because it often shows no noticeable symptoms at all, but does serious damage to the heart. It also increases the risk of damage to the kidneys or blood vessels without prior warning.
Though rare, high blood pressure symptoms may include headache, dizziness, chest pain, nausea, shortness of breath, excessive sweating and heart palpitations. If you experience any of these, it might be a warning sign of high blood pressure – but because they’re quite non-specific symptoms, they could be caused by several other factors too.
The only way to know for sure if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checked. If you haven’t been diagnosed with high blood pressure but you’re over 40, it’s recommended to get this done regularly, ideally once a year.
Hypertension is an illness which can cause serious health problems if left uncontrolled or untreated. It can trigger complications like: heart attack, heart palpitations, heart failure, stroke, loss of vision, dementia and kidney damage. Metabolic syndromes and even memory loss can also occur due to high blood pressure.
You’ll only be offered medications to help with hypertension if your blood pressure is at such a high level that you have a particularly high risk of suffering from other problems because of it, or if your risk of developing further issues is already high.
The first suggestion will always be to make lifestyle changes, such as eating less salt, stopping smoking, drinking less caffeine, cutting down alcohol and exercising more. If you are prescribed a medicine to help lower your blood pressure, you’ll still need to do these things to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.
There are five main types of treatments prescribed for hypertension.
Diuretics help your kidneys remove the extra fluid and salt from your body through urine. So, if you are taking diuretics, you can expect to be urinating more often than before.
These medicines lower blood pressure and make the heart beat more slowly. They block the effects of hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline in the body which often cause heart palpitations, stress, high blood pressure and excessive sweating.
These prescription medications relax the blood vessels and improve the circulation of blood and oxygen to the heart, and this in turn helps to lower blood pressure.
Commonly known as ACE inhibitors, these medicines enlarge or dilate the blood vessels so blood can pass through more easily, and this reduces blood pressure.
Known as ARBs, these prescription drugs work as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors). They relax the blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
If a doctor does think you need treatment, there are a range of options to choose from, and their suitability will depend on different factors. For instance if you're under 55 years of age then you'll usually be offered an ACE inhibitor, or an angiotensin-2 receptor blocker (ARB). Whereas if you're aged 55 or older, or of African or Caribbean descent then you'll usually be offered a calcium channel blocker.
The ‘best’ treatment for hypertension will largely depend on how high your blood pressure is and your personal health needs. If your blood pressure is not excessively high, then the best treatment will simply be to exercise more and eat healthier.
If you do need treatment, then this can be a very individual thing – some people are able to control their blood pressure with just one medication along lifestyle changes, while other people may need a combination of medicines for treatment to be effective. You’ll normally have your blood pressure monitored regularly if you’re on treatment, so a doctor can suggest tweaks if needed. So really, the best treatment is the one that’s most effective for you.
No, hypertension doesn’t always need treatment. Sometimes a few lifestyle changes can help to keep it under control. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, having a healthy diet, reducing stress, and avoiding smoking and alcohol can all lower high blood pressure.
Hypertension is a very dangerous health condition and often shows no symptoms. So, never let it go untreated. Consulting a doctor and taking advice is recommended. They can examine your medical history and then suggest the right high blood pressure treatment for you.
Have something specific you want to know about Hypertension? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Global Disparities of Hypertension Prevalence and Control. Circulation, [online] 134(6), pp.441–450.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in Hypertension: To Use or Not to Use? Journal of the American College of Cardiology, [online] 71(13), pp.1474–1482.
Anti-hypertensive medicine that reduces high blood pressure and keeps it within limits.
Tablets that lower high blood pressure effectively.
Oral medicine that controls high blood pressure. It is also prescribed for heart related problems.
Prescribed medication that lowers high blood pressure and the risks of heart attack or stroke.
Tabets that lower high blood pressure and also the risks of heart attack or stroke.
Oral treatment which helps keep your blood pressure levels under control.
Prescribed medicine that helps keep your high blood pressure under control.
Combination medicine that helps treat hypertension when a single medication hasn't been effective.
Hypertension medicinine that relaxes the blood vessels and helps the heart at pumping blood.
Treatment for hypertension and complications from diabetes mellitus and heart failure.
Branded medication that's prescribed to lower your high blood pressure.
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