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High Blood Pressure
(Essential Hypertension) What is essential
hypertension? Hypertension is the term
for blood pressure that is consistently higher than normal. Hypertension is
called essential or primary when no cause for the high blood pressure can be
found. (When the cause of hypertension is known, such as kidney disease and
tumors, it is called secondary hypertension.) About 95% of all people with high
blood pressure have essential hypertension. Normal blood pressures
average 120/80 (“120 over 80”) but they can rise and fall with exercise or
rest. The pressures are measured in millimeters of mercury. The upper number
(120) is the pressure at the end of the heartbeat (systolic pressure). The lower
number (80) is the pressure at the beginning of the heartbeat (diastolic
pressure). If repeated checks of your blood pressure show that it is higher than
140/90, you have hypertension. Why is high blood pressure a
problem? When your blood pressure
is high, you heart has to work harder just to pump a normal amount of blood
through your body. The higher pressure in your arteries may cause them to weaken
and bleed, resulting in a stroke. The higher artery pressure may lead to
atherosclerosis, in which deposits of cholesterol, fatty substances, and blood
cells clog up an artery. Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of heart attacks.
It can also cause strokes. The added workload on
the heart causes thickening of the heart muscle. Over time, the thickening
damages the heart muscle so that it can no longer numn normally. This can lead
to a disease called congestive heart failure. Your kidneys or eyes may also be
damaged. The longer you have high blood pressure and the higher it is, the more
likely it is you will develop problems. How does it occur? There are no clear
causes of essential hypertension. However, many different factors can increase
blood pressure, such as: •
being overweight •
smoking •
eating a diet high in salt •
drinking a lot of alcohol. Heredity, gender, age,
and race are also important factors. Stress and drinking
caffeine can make blood pressure go up for a while, but the long-term effects
aren’t yet clear. What are the symptoms? One of the sneaky
things about high blood pressure is that you can have it for a long time without
symptoms. That’s why it is important for you have your blood pressure checked
at least once a year. If you do have
symptoms, they may be: •
headaches •
getting tired easily •
dizziness •
nosebleeds •
chest pain •
shortness of breath. Although it happens
rarely, the first symptom may be a stroke. How is it diagnosed? Because it is such a
common problem, blood pressure is checked at most health care visits.
High blood pressure is usually discovered during one of these visits. If your
blood pressure is high, you will be asked to return for follow-up checks. If
your pressure stays high for 3 visits, you probably have hypertension. Your health care
provider will ask about your life situation, what you eat and drink, and if high
blood pressure runs in your family. You may have urine and blood tests. Your
provider may order a chest x-ray and an electrocardiogram (ECG). You may be
asked to use a portable blood-pressure measuring device, which will take your
pressure at different times during day and night. All of this testing is done to
look for a possible cause of your high blood pressure. How is it treated? If your blood pressure
is mildly or even moderately high, you may be able to bring it down to a normal
level without medicine. Weight loss, changes in your diet, and exercise may be
the only treatment you need. If these lifestyle
changes do not lower your blood pressure enough, your health care provider may
prescribe medicine. Some of the types of medicines that can help are diuretics,
beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and vasodilators. When you start taking
medicine, it is important to: •
Take the medicine regularly, exactly as prescribed. •
Tell your health care provider about any side effects right away. •
Have regular follow-up visits with your health care provider. It may not be possible
to know at first which drug or mix of drugs will work best for you. It may take several
weeks or months to find the best treatment for you. How long will the effects
last? You may need treatment
for high blood pressure for the rest of your life. However, proper treatment can
control your blood pressure and help prevent or delay problems. If you already
have some complications, lowering your blood pressure may make their effects
less severe. How can I take care of myself? Your treatment will be
much more effective if you follow these guidelines: •
Always follow your health care provider’s instructions for taking
medicines. Don’t take less medicine or stop taking medicine without talking to
your provider first. It can be dangerous to suddenly stop taking blood pressure
medicine. Also, do not increase your dosage of any medicine without first
talking with your provider. •
Check your blood pressure (or have it checked) as often as your health
care provider advises. Keep a chart of the readings. •
Do not smoke. •
Use less salt. Check the levels of sodium listed on food labels. Avoid
canned and prepared foods unless the label says no salt is added. •
Get regular exercise, according to your health care provider’s advice.
For example, you might walk, bike, or swim at least 30 minutes 3 to 5 times
a week. •
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. If you are a man, drink no more
than two 1-ounce drinks of hard liquor, two beers, or two 6-ounce glasses of
wine a day. Women should have no more than 1 ounce of liquor, one beer, or one
glass of wine a day. •
Limit the amount of caffeine you drink. •
Try to reduce the stress in your life or learn how to deal better with
situations that make you feel anxious. •
Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for information about the
drugs you are taking. •
Lose weight if you need to. •
Tell your health care provider about any side effects you have from your
medicines. Developed by Donald L.
Warkentin, MD; Phyllis G. Cooper, RN, MN; and McKesson Clinical Reference Systems. Published by McKesson
Clinical Reference Systems. This content is
reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes
available The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a
healthcare professional. Adult Health Advisor
2002.2 Index Adult Health Advisor
2002.2 Credits Copyright © 199 1-2002
McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved. |
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