by Karen Johnson

Created on: April 25, 2008   Last Updated: April 29, 2008

Hypertension simply means high-blood pressure. There are two types of hypertension.

One is "primary" pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary means lung) in which no underlying cause is identified, but results from tightening of the blood vessels that supply blood to the lungs. This type of hypertension is rare and is treated with diuretics, medications that dilate the blood vessels, blood thinning medications and using supplemental oxygen to increase blood oxygen levels. The symptoms of primary pulmonary hypertension include irregular shortness of breath, chest pain, dizzy spells, fainting and fatigue.

The other is "secondary" meaning it relates to an underlying medical condition like tumors or kidney disease and sometimes even sleep apnea. No symptoms are directly and consistently related to secondary hypertension but headaches, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, and difficulty sleeping due of feeling hot are often reported by patients later diagnosed with hypertension.

Hypertension is diagnosed by blood pressure measurement but other tests may be run to determine the type of hypotension. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. A person is considered to have hypertension if their blood pressure is consistently 140/90 or higher. A person may be at risk of developing hypertension, also referred to as pre-hypertension, if their blood pressure is consistently between 120/80 and 139/89.

It's important to make proper lifestyle choices when battling hypertension as it is a risk factor for heart attacks and heart failure, kidney failure, vision problems, strokes, arterial aneurysm and even diabetes. It's also a leading cause of chronic renal failure. Average hypertension can lead to shortened life expectancy.

Antihypertensive medications may be necessary to assist in the treatment of hypertension. There are a variety of medications used to treat hypertension and your doctor will determine which are best for you. These medications include ACE inhibitors, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).

Information on pulmonary hypertension reflects that managing your weight, aerobic exercise, salt reduction, not using alcohol or tobacco, and relaxation techniques are all recommended for treatment.

The DASH diet or "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension" is a diet designed to help combat hypertension. It consists of reduced sodium intake, fruits, whole-grain foods, vegetables and low-fat or fat-free dairy foods. Increasing calcium intake has also been shown to reduce blood pressure.

Chiropractic treatment, while not a common treatment for hypertension, has shown immediate decreases in blood pressure.

Hypertension can lead to serious problems and should not be ignored. It may not be fun to implement the recommended lifestyle changes but your health, and even your life, could depend on it.

Be aware of your health status and visit your doctor regularly to increase your chances of catching hypertension or any other medical condition in its early stages.

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