by Katie Lee

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

Hypertension is more commonly known as high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the measure of the force of the blood pushing against the arteries' walls. The higher the blood pressure, the harder the heart must work to pump the blood throughout the body, and the greater the stress on the linings of the arteries. Thus, high blood pressure can lead to heart attack or failure, and is the leading cause of strokes. Generally, blood pressure that measures higher than 140/90 is considered hypertension, although there is some variance on this.

There are two types of hypertension. Primary hypertension, which has no known origin, and its causes are generally attributed to lifestyle. Secondary hypertension is caused by an existing medical condition. For instance, chronic kidney disease often results in hypertension. Only about 15% of the cases of hypertension are secondary hypertension, thus the majority of those with hypertension has primary hypertension. As noted, there's no known origin of primary hypertension, but its causes can be attributed to certain lifestyle choices. Smoking, stress, a sedentary lifestyle, a high sodium diet, and excessive alcohol consumption all increase the risk of hypertension. Additionally, certain groups are more susceptible to hypertension than others, with studies showing that African-Americans have a higher rate of hypertension. Those who are obese also have a higher risk.

Generally, there are no discernible symptoms of hypertension. In most cases, it is only detected by taking the patient's blood pressure, which is done using an instrument called a sphygomomanometer. Most drugstores sell these devices so monitoring one's blood pressure at home is now easy and convenient. The sphygomomanometer does not hurt at all, although patients will feel pressure and tightening in the arm as the cuff contracts. Those with extreme hypertension (blood pressure measuring higher than 160/100), may often have headaches, vision problems, fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pains and blood in their urine.

Hypertension can lead to serious medical conditions such as heart failure, strokes, vision problems and kidney failure. As such, for those suffering from hypertension, it is imperative that they seek medical advice and treatment as soon as possible. Treatment of hypertension is often a combination of drug therapy and lifestyle changes. There are many medications available today to treat hypertension such as ACE inhibitors or calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes such as dietary modifications and implementing an exercise program will greatly supplement and enhance any drug therapy regimens. Some patients subscribe to the DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) plan, which consists of a diet that is low in sodium and high in fruits and vegetables. Sodium causes the body to retain fluids which pushes against blood vessels, causing them to constrict, which makes it harder for the blood to flow and thus, increases the pressure needed to pump the blood through them. Reducing stress and ceasing activities such as smoking and excessive drinking can also control hypertension.

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