Definition
Hypertension could be the term utilized to describe high blood pressure.
Blood pressure readings are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and usually given as two numbers. By way of example, 120 over 80 (written as 120/80 mmHg).
The leading number is your systolic pressure, the pressure developed when your heart beats. It really is considered high if it is consistently over 140.
The bottom number is your diastolic pressure, the pressure inside blood vessels when the heart is at rest. It is considered high if it truly is consistently over 90.
Either or each of these numbers may be too high.
Pre-hypertension is when your systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 or your diastolic blood pressure is among 80 and 89 on several readings. For those who have pre-hypertension, that you are a lot more most likely to develop high blood pressure.
Symptoms
Most of the time, there are no symptoms. Symptoms that could occur contain:
Chest discomfort
Confusion
Ear noise or buzzing
Irregular heartbeat
Nosebleed
Tiredness
Vision changes
When you have a severe headache or any of the symptoms above, see your doctor correct away. These might be signs of a complication or dangerously high blood pressure known as malignant hypertension.
Causes & Risk Factors
Blood pressure measurements are the result of the force with the blood produced by the heart and the size and condition of the arteries.
Many factors can affect blood pressure, including:
How much water and salt you have in your body
The condition of your kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels
The levels of different body hormones
High blood pressure can affect all types of people. You might have a higher risk of high blood pressure when you have a family history with the disease. High blood pressure is much more common in African Americans than Caucasians. Smoking, obesity, and diabetes are all risk factors for hypertension.
Most with the time, no cause is identified. This is referred to as essential hypertension.
High blood pressure that results from a specific condition, habit, or medication is named secondary hypertension. Too much salt in your diet can lead to high blood pressure. Secondary hypertension may possibly also be due to:
Adrenal gland tumor
Alcohol abuse
Anxiety and stress
Arteriosclerosis
Birth control pills
Coarctation of the aorta
Cocaine use
Cushing syndrome
Diabetes
Kidney disease, including:
Glomerulonephritis (inflammation of kidneys)
Kidney failure
Renal artery stenosis
Renal vascular obstruction or narrowing
Medications
Appetite suppressants
Certain cold medications
Corticosteroids
Migraine medications
Hemolytic-uremic syndrome
Henoch-Schonlein purpura
Obesity
Pain
Periarteritis nodosa
Pheochromocytoma
Pregnancy (known as gestational hypertension)
Primary hyperaldosteronism
Renal artery stenosis
Retroperitoneal fibrosis
Wilms' tumor
