Live a hypertension free life

Hypertension: This is a state of abnormally high blood pressure and great psychological stress. Hypertension which is also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.

Temporarily high blood pressure usually does not cause any symptoms. Long-term high blood pressure, however, is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, vision loss, and chronic kidney disease.

Symptoms of hypertension

1. An enlarged or weakened heart, which may fail to pump enough blood and eventually results in heart failure.

2. Aneurysm – an abnormal bulge in the wall of an artery which can burst, causing severe bleeding and leads to death in some cases

3. Blood vessel narrowing in the kidneys can result in kidney failure. In the heart, brain, and legs, this can lead to a heart attack, stroke or the need for amputation.

4. The blood vessels in the eyes might rupture or bleed, leading to vision problems or blindness.

Diagnosis of Hypertension

Hypertension is diagnosed on the basis of a persistently high resting blood pressure

At Afriglobal Medicare, we attempt to identify the underlying cause based on risk factors and other symptoms that follow high blood pressure.

Secondary hypertension develops more rapidly and often results in higher blood pressure than primary hypertension. It may develop due to certain prescription and over-the-counter medications, some congenital heart defects, illicit drug use, abnormalities of the kidneys and adrenal gland tumors

While Primary or essential hypertension is pervasive across all races and both genders. While treatable, primary hypertension is not curable, and the goal of treatment is to prevent the key consequences of elevated BP such as kidney disease, stroke or myocardial infarction.

Laboratory tests can also be performed to identify possible causes of secondary hypertension and to determine whether hypertension has caused damage to the heart, eyes, and kidneys.

To prevent hypertension

1. Maintain a healthy weight: When it comes to hypertension prevention, your weight is crucial to your overall health. People who are overweight should try to lose weight, and people of normal weight should avoid adding on more kilograms. Maintain normal BMI of 18 – 24.9kg/m2

2. Eat a balanced diet: Eating healthful foods can help keep your blood pressure under control. Get plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in potassium, and limit your intake of excess calories, fat, and sugar

3. Cut back on salt. For many people, eating a low-sodium diet can help keep blood pressure normal. The higher the sodium intake, the higher the blood pressure,”

4. Exercise regularly. Physical activity is crucial, the more exercise you get, the better, but even a little bit can help control blood pressure. Moderate exercise for about 30 minutes three times a week is a good start.

5. Monitor your blood pressure: High blood pressure often occurs with no symptoms so only blood pressure readings will tell you if your blood pressure is on the rise. Maintain a normal blood pressure which is less than or equals 120/80mmHg. But For a hypertensive on medication, your target BP should be less than or equals 130/80mmHg.