Useful Information About Hypertension

Hypertension is the medical term for a condition in which blood pressure is consistently above the norm.

 A value of blood pressure is constituted by two numbers. The top number is the systolic pressure. This is the amount of pressure that is generated when the heart to pump blood through the arteries. The next number is the diastolic pressure. This is the amount of
pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest, between beats. When the reading is above the range 140 (systolic) / 90 (diastolic), denotes hypertension.

Hypertension can be a risk factor for kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, and vascular disease. People with hypertension have a risk of heart attacks and stroke, since that puts a strain on the heart by increasing its need for oxygen.

High blood pressure can be caused by several factors. Some factors include trends hereditary or genetic, environmental factors, poor eating habits, stress, smoking, and lack of exercise. Other factors that can affect blood pressure are salt content in the body, the volume of water in the body, levels of various hormones, and obesity.

Identification, diagnosis, treatment and control of hypertension at an early stage can significantly reduce the risk of developing heart attack, kidney failure or stroke.

TYPES OF HYPERTENSION:

There are two main types of hypertension: essential hypertension or primary and secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension is the most common condition, which is located in 95 percent of cases. It does not have a precise cause. There are several factors which may act in combination, causing the increase in blood pressure. Secondary hypertension is located in 5-10 percent of cases. Here, the increase in blood pressure is caused by a specific defect in one of the organs of the body. Treat the affected organ can control or cure hypertension.

Other types of hypertension include malignant hypertension, isolated systolic hypertension, white coat hypertension and resistant hypertension. Malignant hypertension is severe and can result in damage to organs such as the heart, kidneys and brain. Isolated systolic hypertension results from age-related loss of elasticity of the arteries, when blood pressure is consistently above 160/91 mmHg. White coat hypertension is caused by anxiety and can be controlled by incorporating changes in lifestyle. Resistant hypertension is a condition in which blood pressure can not be reduced to below 140/90 mm Hg, despite medication.