High blood pressure is a common condition that mainly affects the arteries - this condition is often described as HYPERTENSION. This is because the pressure of the blood pressing against the walls of the arteries is constantly too high during the entire operation of the heart in the case of hypertension. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg or less.

HIGH-BLOOD PRESSURE: What is high blood pressure? | Symptoms | Consult a doctor | Causes of Hypertension | HEALING | Conventional treatment | Alternative | Treatment at home | Prevention | Questions and Answers | Sources/references

SYMPTOMS

Most people have no warning signs of hypertension (high blood pressure).

If symptoms occur, they may be:

• Headache, chest pain or tightness, nosebleeds, tingling, and numbness; you probably have severe hypertension;

Video content: symptoms and treatment of hypertension

• Severe sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, palpitations, and frequent urination; secondary hypertension may be caused by a tumor or a malfunction of the adrenal glands.

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR IF

• you are taking antihypertensive, and you notice worrying side effects such as dizziness, constipation, vertigo, or reduced sexual ability. Your doctor may need to prescribe another medicine.

• You are pregnant, and your blood pressure rises; high blood pressure can affect you and your unborn baby's health.

Image: blood pressure measurement. What to do if it is too high?

• You are suffering from severe headaches, nausea, blurred vision, impaired consciousness or memory; you may have malignant hypertension, which, if left untreated, can lead to a stroke or heart infarction.

• The diastolic pressure - the second value in the blood pressure reading - suddenly rises above 130; you may have malignant hypertension.

The value would undoubtedly be high if your blood pressure were taken immediately after a public speech or after running 10 kilometers. However, this is not necessarily a cause for alarm: it is normal for blood pressure to rise and fall with physical activity and emotional states. Blood pressure also varies from individual to individual, even from one part of the body to another. Still, if the blood pressure is consistently high, some measures must be taken to regulate it.

High blood pressure or hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease in the industrialized world. It is the leading cause of stroke and among the leading causes of heart infarction. Approximately 40 million people have high blood pressure in the United States alone. This number includes more than half of all Americans over 60 and about 64% of those over 70.

Video content: Blood pressure - what is it anyway?

Blood pressure expresses the force with which the blood presses against the walls of the arteries as it flows through the body. Like the air in an inner tube, it fills the blood vessel to a specific capacity. Just as too much air pressure destroys the inner tube, too much blood pressure can endanger healthy arteries.

When reading blood pressure, we get two values. The first, higher one, is the systolic pressure, which is the maximum force of the blood on the walls of the vessels when the heart pushes the blood into the ship. The second number tells you the diastolic pressure, which is the force of the blood against the vessel walls as the heart fills for the next beat. Normal blood pressure ranges from 90/60 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) at birth to 120/80 mm Hg in a healthy adult. People with blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm on at least two measurements have high blood pressure. If the pressure remains high, the doctor will probably start treatment. Patients with blood pressure higher than 200/120 mm Hg should be treated immediately.

Constantly high blood pressure forces the heart to work significantly above its capacity. As a result, it can damage blood vessels, the brain, the eyes, and the kidneys. However, many people with hypertension are unaware that they have it. High blood pressure is, therefore, often called the "silent killer," as it rarely causes problems, even when it has already caused severe damage to the body. Untreated, it can cause eye damage such as swelling of the optic nerve or bleeding in the retina, heart attack, kidney failure, and other potentially fatal diseases. Congestive heart failure, a common condition in the elderly that causes shortness of breath, can also result from hypertension. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be successfully managed. The first step is detection, so measure your blood pressure regularly.

CAUSES

In as many as 95% of registered patients with hypertension, the cause cannot be determined. This form of high blood pressure is called essential hypertension. If the patient develops organic damage due to hypertension, he has malignant hypertension; the diastolic blood pressure in such cases is usually higher than 130. Malignant hypertension is a dangerous condition that develops quickly and requires immediate medical attention. p>

Video content: causes of hypertension.

The condition is called secondary hypertension when the direct cause can be identified. Kidney diseases are the most common among the known causes of secondary hypertension. It can also be triggered by tumors and other abnormalities of the adrenal glands, in which hormones that raise blood pressure are excessively secreted. Blood pressure is also increased by birth control pills (especially those containing estrogen), pregnancy, and drugs that narrow blood vessels.

Although essential hypertension remains unexplained, it has been linked to certain risk factors. High blood pressure, e.g., runs in families and affects men more often than women. Age and race are also important.

Image: showing the resulting coating and plaque formation in the arteries, which is the main reason for high blood pressure.

Essential hypertension is greatly influenced by diet and lifestyle. The connection between salt and high blood pressure is vital. People living in the northern islands of Japan eat more salt per person than anywhere else in the world and also have the highest incidence of essential hypertension. In contrast, people who do not add salt to their food have almost none. Most hypertensive patients are "salt sensitive," meaning that anything more than the body's minimum need for salt is too much for them and causes their blood pressure to rise. Other factors that have been linked to essential hypertension are obesity, diabetes, stress, insufficient intake of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, lack of exercise, and chronic alcoholism.

HEALING

Essential hypertension cannot be cured, but it can be treated effectively.

Secondary hypertension can be cured if the cause of its occurrence is eliminated. You can do many things to control your blood pressure, but talk to your doctor before doing anything. Then, create a treatment program that will be best for you.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE

You will most likely find out that you have high blood pressure during a regular check-up with your doctor (or you will notice the problem when you take your blood pressure yourself, but always consult your doctor for a diagnosis). Take this opportunity to learn what you can do to manage your blood pressure. Most doctors prefer to suggest lifestyle changes before prescribing medication. A complete healthy lifestyle program includes changes in the diet to make it more nutritious and contains less salt, regular aerobic exercise, weight loss, and smoking cessation. Today, many doctors also recommend yoga, meditation, and other relaxation methods to reduce stress.

Video content: hypertension and general treatment

Some patients with hypertension will need drug treatment either because of the severity of the disease or because self-help methods have not been able to control their blood pressure. Several drugs are effective in treating high blood pressure, including diuretics, which remove excess salt and water from the body, and beta blockers, which cause the heart to beat more slowly and less intensely. Other drugs, including calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), alpha-blockers, and centrally-acting drugs, lower blood pressure by relaxing the artery walls and dilating them.

Warning: Do not stop taking prescribed medications without consulting your doctor; sudden withdrawal can be dangerous.

ALTERNATIVE MODES

Many alternative treatments for high blood pressure focus on relaxation techniques.

Video content: 3 natural ways to lower blood pressure.

Others try to get closer to the physiological roots of the problem by changing the patient's lifestyle or influencing the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.

ACUPRESSURE

Pressing many points all over the body (right) can improve blood circulation and lower high blood pressure.

WORK WITH THE BODY

Regular massage and shiatsu help to relax and thereby lower blood pressure. Both touch and manipulation methods reduce tension in the body. The massage is done all over the body, but with shiatsu, the emphasis is on particular pressing points, e.g., on the back of the legs or the inside of the wrist.

CHINESE MEDICINE

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners treat high blood pressure by combining acupuncture with herbs and massage. Acupuncture helps people with moderate hypertension but is not recommended for severe hypertension.

Image: Chinese medicine herbs; we also find herbs for high blood pressure.

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum), peony root (Paeonia lactiflora), eucommia bark (Eucommia ulmoidesi), and blackberry (Prunella vulgaris) are among the many Chinese herbs prescribed for high blood pressure.

HERBS

Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) is used in many circulatory diseases and can help lower high blood pressure. In the long term, it dilates blood vessels and regulates heart rate. You can make hawthorn tea home by steeping the dried flowers and berries in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. Research shows that abundant consumption of garlic (Allium saliva) and onion (Allium cepa) lowers blood pressure. Valerian (Valeriana Officinalis), used only when necessary, acts as a sedative in people subjected to unnecessary stress. (Also, remember the password Anxiety).

MEDICINE OF SPIRIT AND BODY

Many methods, including biofeedback, meditation, and hypnosis, encourage the mind to relax the body. If you exercise regularly under the guidance of a professional for a long time, your blood pressure may decrease.

For some, positive imagery also helps; imagine, for example, how you are floating in calm water.

NUTRITION

You can regulate your blood pressure with a properly adjusted diet. Before, food should be fiber-rich and contain little fat and salt. With these guidelines in mind, choose to focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Improve the taste of food with other spices and not with salt, and avoid canned food, as it contains a lot of sodium. Also, watch what you drink. Research shows that caffeine raises blood pressure, at least in the short term, while moderate alcohol consumption lowers it. However, keep alcohol to a minimum; more than 60 grams of alcohol per day can make hypertension worse.

Image: diet suitable for all hypertensive patients.

Of the vitamins and minerals, the best studied are the effects of potassium. Researchers recommend 3,000 to 4,000 mg of potassium per day. Start eating more fresh vegetables and fruits, especially bananas. Consult your doctor before taking potassium supplements, as too much can be harmful. Fish is a good source of fatty acids, which relax the arteries and "thin" the blood. Greens are beneficial, even though they contain sodium because they contain substances that relax the walls of blood vessels.

Numerous studies have shown that patients with hypertension benefit from daily doses of calcium (800 mg) and magnesium (300 mg). Patients tend to respond better to one of them. After consulting with your doctor, try taking calcium supplements for a month. If you don't see any improvement, try magnesium.

You can also get calcium naturally in skimmed milk, yogurt, and cheese. Many seeds, nuts, legumes, and dark) green leafy vegetables contain both calcium and magnesium.

YOGA

Yoga is highly recommended for hypertension due to its relaxing effect.

HEALTH AT HOME

• Get used to a healthy diet. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Give up salty food and season your meals with other spices. Drink alcohol and caffeine very limited.

• Exercise regularly to get rid of extra pounds and increase blood flow. She is walking, running, cycling, and swimming lower blood pressure in the long term.

• You can't always avoid stress, but you can learn to manage it better. Researchers believe that pressure does not simply come from being overworked but from situations that make you feel like you have no control over things. So the next time you feel stressed, ask yourself why then focus on solving the problem.

• If you smoke, stop.

PREVENTION

• You can keep your blood pressure healthy and reduce your risk of heart disease by making lifestyle changes. Watch what you eat. Avoid salt and fat; focus on fiber, calcium, and magnesium-rich foods.

• Move a lot. Regular aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and keeps blood vessels dilated and healthy.

Video content: treatment and prevention of high blood pressure

• If you are overweight, try to lose weight. Even a slight difference in body weight can be very noticeable.

• If you smoke, now is the time to quit.

Questions and Answers

What are the three symptoms of hypertension?

When symptoms do occur, they can include early morning headaches, nosebleeds, irregular heart rhythm, vision changes, and ringing in the ears. In addition, severe hypertension can cause fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion, anxiety, chest pain, and muscle tremors^[1].

What are the three leading causes of hypertension?

Overeat salt and not enough fruit and vegetables, or perhaps not enough exercise. Maybe you drink too much alcohol or coffee, or maybe you smoke.^[2].

What happens if you have hypertension?

High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood through the veins to the rest of the body. This causes the thickening of the lower left ventricle of the heart. A thickened left ventricle increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death.^[3].

Sources and references

Source: Family Health Guide. Conventional and alternative treatment, Dr. Jajo Lajovic, Publishing House Mladinska knjiga

1. Hypertension - https://www.who.int

2. High blood pressure (hypertension) - https://www.nhs.uk

3. High blood pressure dangers: Hypertension's effects on your body - https://www.mayoclinic.org