Hypertension (High blood pressure)

 

Hypertension (High blood pressure)

Keywords: Hypertension symptoms, Hypertension treatment, Hypertension causes, Hypertension diagnosis

High blood pressure (hypertension) or hypertension is a condition that increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

Symptoms

Hypertension is often asymptomatic and people can have hypertension for years without noticing it. However, the condition can be serious and symptoms do not even appear until the hypertension begins to damage other organs. The main symptoms can then be:

 

Visual disturbances

Headache, especially in the morning

Shortness of breath

Blood pressure values

Two numbers are used to explain blood pressure, e.g. 140/90. The higher number indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts, while the lower number indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes.

 

The table below shows blood pressure criteria:

Blood pressure                      Upper value                           Lower value

Hypertension                         140 or higher                         90 or higher

Elevated                                120-139                                  80-89

Normal                                  119 or lower                           79 or lower

 

Treatment

If your doctor has recommended antihypertensive drugs, it is important to take them regularly. If one of the side effects gets serious, or if you see any side effects not listed in this patent, Contact your doctor.

Regular intake of antihypertensive drugs can prevent you from having a heart attack or stroke and thus save your life.

 

What can I do?

You can control your blood pressure by:

Relieve yourself - if you are overweight

Choose low-fat foods and more vegetables and fruits

Reduce salt intake

Exercise 30 minutes a day, most days

Reduce alcohol consumption (if you drink more than 2 glasses a day)

Some tips to help you change your habits are here.

 

It is a good idea to get a blood pressure monitor to monitor your blood pressure at home. If you regularly monitor your own blood pressure, it is better to influence it to lower it.

 

Blood pressure measurement at home:

Blood pressure monitors are available at pharmacies and various health food stores

Sit down and rest for 5 minutes before measuring

Make sure it is at least 30 minutes after the last meal, exercise, bath, smoking or alcohol consumption

Follow the meter's instructions for positioning the meter on your hand and measure

Record the measurement

Then measure your blood pressure regularly, always at the same time of day

Make a note of your measurements and bring them with you to your next visit to the health center.

When to seek help?

Contact your healthcare provider soon if your regular blood pressure is above 140/90

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if your blood pressure is around 180/120

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if your blood pressure is above 140/90 and you experience the following symptoms:

Visual disturbances

Headache, especially in the morning

Nausea, vomiting

Drowsiness or impaired consciousness

Difficulty speaking

Difficulty breathing

Chest, back or side pain

Brown or bloody urine

Find the nearest clinic.