Understanding Hypertension
Blood pressure is the amount of force (pressure) that blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels as it passes through them. As blood is pumped from your heart into your blood vessels, enough pressure is created to send it to all other parts of your body.
If your blood pressure is too high, you have what's known as hypertension (also commonly referred to as
high blood pressure).
To determine whether you have hypertension, it's necessary to measure your blood pressure.
This is commonly done by using a device with which you are probably familiar. When taking a
blood pressure reading, your healthcare provider wraps a cuff (usually made of fabric) around your arm and then slightly inflates it. The
blood pressure numbers are measured by a gauge attached to the cuff. Your healthcare provider reads the numbers from the gauge as air is released from the cuff. This device is called a
sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure can also be measured with a special machine.
The two numbers that measure your blood pressure are written like a fraction: one number on top and one on the bottom. For example, what many people consider "normal" blood pressure is written as 120/80. The number on top refers to the systolic pressure. It measures the pressure inside your blood vessels at the moment your heart beats. The number on the bottom represents your diastolic pressure. It measures the pressure in your blood vessels between heartbeats, when your heart is resting.
How Is Hypertension Diagnosed?
Hypertension can only be diagnosed after taking several readings to find your
average blood pressure. To find this, your
blood pressure needs to be taken two or more times and each reading must be from a different day. If the average of these readings is more than 140/90, you have hypertension.
A single reading of more than 140/90 doesn't necessarily mean that you have hypertension. But your doctor will probably want to monitor your blood pressure over a period of time to see if it stays there. You can also have hypertension if the average of only one of the numbers (systolic or diastolic) is too high
(see Isolated Systolic Hypertension).
Hypertension and Associated Health Risks
Hypertension does not cause problems over days, weeks, or months; rather, it causes problems over many years and can affect your entire body. By adding strain to the blood vessel walls, hypertension makes them more likely to develop a buildup of fat and
cholesterol -- also known as "hardening" of the arteries. This, in turn, puts extra strain on your heart as it pumps blood through the narrowed arteries.
Over time, the strain
hypertension causes on the heart and blood vessels can increase the risk of serious health problems, such as:
Treatment Options for Hypertension
Hypertension can be controlled through a combination of lifestyle changes and, in many cases, medications. Together, these can help
lower blood pressure in many people and get them closer to a
normal blood pressure.
Lifestyle changes are often the first step in
hypertension treatment. In addition to helping control the disease, lifestyle changes often improve the quality of a person's life. As you make changes to your lifestyle, it may take three to six months before your healthcare provider sees the full benefit these changes may have on your condition. Some of these changes may include:
- Exercising
- Losing weight
- Changing your diet
- Drinking less alcohol
- Reducing salt intake.
In addition to lifestyle changes, many medications are available to control hypertension. Each works in a slightly different way. Everyone reacts differently to medicine, so you may need to try a few different types before your healthcare provider finds the best one for you. If your doctor has prescribed pills for you, it's important to take them exactly as directed.
Hypertension is more common than most people guess. Consider the following facts:
- More than 65 million American adults -- nearly one in three -- have hypertension
- Nearly 60 million Americans are over age 55, which means they have a 90 percent likelihood of developing hypertension in their lifetimes
- African Americans are more likely to develop hypertension than any other racial or ethnic group and tend to develop it earlier and more severely than others
- At least 18 million Americans have diabetes, which increases their chances of developing hypertension
- Approximately 122 million American adults are overweight or obese, which puts them at higher risk of developing hypertension.
Many people do not experience any
symptoms of hypertension or related discomfort, so they find it easy to ignore their condition. This significantly increases their chances of developing kidney disease, a
heart attack, a
stroke, or other heart and blood vessel problems. Getting this condition under control may add years to a person's life.
