Hypertension
- High blood pressure
Hypertension is in the top 10 leading natural causes of death in women. It is referred to as a 'silent epidemic' in South Africa because people who are hypertensive are usually unaware that they are.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines being hypertensive as having blood pressure higher than 160/95 mmHg. High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries.
Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to the tissues and organs of the body. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called "pre-hypertension", and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high.
Too much pressure puts a strain on the arteries and the heart. This can cause an artery to burst or the heart to fail under the strain - in the worst case stopping altogether. Blood pressure depends on a combination of two factors:
How forcefully the heart pumps blood around the body.
How narrow or relaxed your arteries are.
Hypertension occurs when blood is forced through the arteries at an increased pressure. Cited: Netdoctor, 2009.
Symptoms
High blood pressure is difficult to diagnose as it has very few symptoms. It may continue unnoticed until one of its later complications such as stroke or heart attack surface. However, sometimes people with high blood pressure have the following symptoms:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
Severe hypertension can cause symptoms such as:
- Sleepiness
- Confusion
- Coma
- Chest pain or shortness of breath upon exertion
Risk Factors
- Obesity
- Malnutrition
- Diabetes mellitus
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking
- High intake of salt
- What can you do?
Every adult near or past middle age should 'know their numbers'- i.e. your height, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
You should also have regular blood pressure tests if there is a family tendency to hypertension. This way, treatment can be started before any complications arise.
Change your lifestyle:
- Stop smoking
- Lose weight
- Exercise regularly
- Cut down on alcohol
- Eat a varied diet
- Reduce stress by trying different relaxation techniques, or by avoiding stressful situations. Cited: Netdoctor, 2009.
Sources:
Videos:
Last Update: 03 June 2010
