High Blood Pressure

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension is a condition in which the pressure inside your heart is higher than normal.  This measurement includes when the heart is contracting and relaxing, giving two values to monitor. High blood pressure over a long period of time can cause damage to the heart including thickening the heart walls.  In addition, long-term hypertension can be a cause of heart attacks, abnormal heart rhythms, and stroke. For this reason it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly to ensure that your heart health is at its best.

What are the Different Blood Pressure Stages

In order to know if you have hypertension it is important to have blood pressure measured regularly. There are two measurements created and the top number, or the first number, represents the systolic pressure, or the pressure which is created when the heart contracts. The second number, or diastolic pressure, occurs when the heart is relaxing. Both values are important, but a normal blood pressure is considered at or below 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, all measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Elevated blood pressure occurs in the following stages: 

• Normal Blood Pressure.  Normal blood pressure occurs when the blood pressure is below 120 mmHg systolic and 80 mmHg diastolic and is where adults should aim to be for optimal health.  Proper diet, ample exercise, and keeping stress levels at a minimum should help to keep this reading in the normal level.
• Prehypertension. This reading occurs when blood pressure is at 120-139 mmHg systolic and between 80-80 mmHg diastolic.  Typically this stage means your doctor may direct lifestyle changes to see if blood pressure normalizes, but it is not often to require treatment in this stage.
• Hypertension Stage 1. When blood pressure measures 140-159 mmHg systolic and 90-99 mmHg diastolic and it remains elevated, you are diagnosed with hypertension.  This stage will often involve lifestyle changes including ample exercise and a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and ample fiber.

Hypertension Stage 2. When blood pressure measures over 160 mmHg systolic and 100 mmHg diastolic and it remains elevated you will be diagnosed with hypertension, stage 2.  This stage often involves more critical levels and it is important to seek care if your measurements fall in this category, no matter how well you might be feeling at the time.

What are the Major Causes of Hypertension?

In a general sense, essential primary hypertension is caused either by genetics from parents or from unknown causes. Secondary hypertension is most common and is caused from some other condition. The most common condition causing secondary hypertension includes atherosclerosis, or the hardening or coronary arteries causing narrowing, kidney disorders, smoking and alcohol consumption, diets high in sodium and low in potassium, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle.

What are the Treatment Options for Hypertension?

Treatment often depends on what each individual's health requires. Listed below are common treatment options for hypertension that your doctor may suggest. 

• Lifestyle Changes. Most commonly, changes in diet and exercise often are a first step, especially if you fall in the prehypertension stage. It is especially important to listen to your doctor, but a diet which includes fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lower in saturated fats can help to combat blood pressure from creeping higher. In addition, ample exercise is important to help combat high blood pressure, especially cardiovascular endurance exercise.

• Weight loss. Weight loss is important for managing or reducing blood pressure.  Studies have shown the importance of exercise for lowering blood pressure, with obese individuals with hypertension lowering overall readings by 12 mmHg systolic and 8 mmHg diastolic. This underscores the importance of making a lifestyle change that is directed towards healthy eating, more exercise, and with weight loss. 

• Medication. Sometimes lifestyle needs a little support with hypertension as well. With a prescription from your doctor, you could help to manage your blood pressure with a variety of medications. Common classifications include:
• Beta Blockers. They reduce heat rate and reduce the amount of stress hormones affecting the heart.  Beta blockers are very commonly given for a wide range of heart conditions and might be prescribed if you have hypertension.
• Calcium Channel Blockers. This type of medication class helps to relax the heart and blood vessels which lead to expansion of the vessels and overall eases blood pressure.
• ACE inhibitors. This medication class is used to regulate hormones that narrow blood vessels to ease pressure from the heart. This leads to expanded blood vessels and better blood flow and decreased blood pressure.

Finding the right medication for hypertension can have a large effect on overall health and be sure to discuss all options with your doctor to find the proper treatment.