High Blood Pressure

Also called: HBP, HTN, Hypertension

Blood pressure measurements are the result of the force of the blood produced by the heart and the size and condition of the arteries.

Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps out blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure.

Your blood pressure reading uses systolic and diastolic pressures. Usually they are written one above or before the other. A reading of

• 120/80 or lower is normal blood pressure
• 140/90 or higher is high blood pressure
• 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number is prehypertension

Hypertension is the term doctors use for high blood pressure. Either or both of these numbers may be too high.

Pre-hypertension is when your systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 or your diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and 89 on multiple readings. If you have pre-hypertension, you are more likely to develop high blood pressure at some point.

Many factors can affect blood pressure, including how much water and salt you have in your body, the condition of your kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels, and the levels of different body hormones.

High blood pressure can affect all types of people. You have a higher risk of high blood pressure if you have a family history of the disease. High blood pressure is more common in African Americans than Caucasians.

Most of the time, no cause is identified. This is called essential hypertension. High blood pressure that results from a specific condition, habit, or medication is called secondary hypertension.

Secondary hypertension may also be due to:

• Adrenal gland tumor
• Alcohol poisoning
• Anxiety and stress
• Appetite suppressants
• Arteriosclerosis
• Birth control pills
• Certain cold medicines
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Cocaine use
• Cushing syndrome
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Migraine medicines
• Hemolytic-uremic syndrome
• Henoch-Schonlein purpura
• Obesity
• Pain
• Periarteritis nodosa
• Pregnancy (called gestational hypertension)
• Radiation enteritis
• Renal artery stenosis
• Retroperitoneal fibrosis
• Wilms' tumor

Symptoms

Most of the time, there are no symptoms. Symptoms that may occur include:

• Confusion
• Chest pain
• Ear noise or buzzing
• Irregular heartbeat
• Nosebleed
• Tiredness
• Vision changes

If you have a severe headache or any of the symptoms above, see your doctor right away. This may be a signs of a complication or dangerously high blood pressure called malignant hypertension.

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and check your blood pressure. If the measurement is high, your doctor may think you have high blood pressure. The measurements need to be repeated over time, so that the diagnosis can be confirmed.

Other tests may be done to look for blood in urine or heart failure. Your doctor will look for signs of complications to your heart, kidneys, eyes, and other organs in your body.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to reduce blood pressure so that you have a lower risk of complications.

There are many different medicines that can be used to treat high blood pressure. Such medicines include:

• Alpha blockers
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Beta-blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Central alpha agonists
• Diuretics
• Renin inhibitors, including aliskiren (Tekturna)
• Vasodilators

Outlook (Prognosis)

Most of the time, high blood pressure can be controlled with medicine and lifestyle changes.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

If you have high blood pressure, you will have regularly scheduled appointments with your doctor.

Call your health care provider right away if home monitoring shows that your blood pressure remains high or you have any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Excessive tiredness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe headache
• Shortness of breath
• Significant sweating
• Vision changes

Prevention

Lifestyle changes may help control your blood pressure:

• Lose weight if you are overweight. Excess weight adds to strain on the heart. Exercise regularly.
• Eat a healthy diet. Eat less fat and sodium. Salt, MSG, and baking soda all contain sodium. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and fiber.
• Avoid smoking.
• If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control.

Follow your health care provider's recommendations to modify, treat, or control possible causes of secondary hypertension.

Click here to read more on High Blood Pressure

Understanding High Blood Pressure Recommended Resources:

The Franklin Institute

Health Link