Hypertension is also called High Blood Pressure (HBP).
It is a medical condition in which the pressure within the vessels is persistently elevated. It is a long term medical condition
WHAT DO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE VALUES MEAN
What factors increase your chance of having a high blood pressure
• Genes
• Excess salt in diet
• Excess body fat
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Illegal drug use
• Kidney diseases
• Heart diseases
• Endocrine diseases
• Thyroid diseases
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
HYPERTENSION USUALLY HAVE NO SYMPTOMS. SYMPTOMS USUALLY OCCUR WHEN THE BLOOD PRESSURE HAS CAUSED SOME COMPLICATIONS. SOME OF THESE INCLUDES:
- headaches
- shortness of breath
- nosebleeds
- flushing
- dizziness
- chest pain
- visual changes
- blood in the urine
What are the effects of having a High Blood Pressure
- Damage to the blood vessels
- Heart attacks
- Heart failure
- Irregular heartbeats
- Stroke
What tests can be done when one’s blood pressure is elevated. This depends on individual cases.
- ECG
- Chest x-ray
- Lipogram
- Blood glucose level
- Kidney function test
- Thyroid function tests
- Abdominopelvic scan
- Echocardiogram
How can you prevent/manage your high blood pressure
- Reduce salt in diet/avoid high salt diet
- Maintain ideal weight
- Low-calorie diet
- Exercise
- Regular blood pressure check
- Compliance with BP medications
- Compliance with medical checkups and investigations
