Introduction: blood pressure is the pressure created by the flow of blood from the heart and through the blood vessels. High blood pressure, called hypertension, can result from changes in the amount of blood pumped, the resistance of the peripheral blood vessels, or both. Blood pressure is expressed as 2 numbers, the upper (systolic) and the lower (diastolic), and is written as systolic/diastolic.
Hypertension is a systolic pressure above 140 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and a diastolic pressure above 90 mmHg, recorded repeatedly over a period of time.
- Primary high blood pressure means that the cause of the raised blood pressure cannot be identified.
- Secondary high blood pressure is high blood pressure with a specific cause, such as narrowing of the kidney arteries, certain medicines, pregnancy or narrowing of the aorta.
Signs and symptoms: high blood pressure itself has no symptoms. You may have high blood pressure for years without realising it, which is why blood pressure screening is recommended: check your blood pressure at least 2 times a year. Severe headaches, nausea, vomiting and chest pain are symptoms of high blood pressure.
People at risk of high blood pressure: a family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, raised blood triglycerides, obesity, smoking and alcohol use, and stress are risk factors that predispose to high blood pressure. Possible complications if it is not treated: an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack and heart failure; stroke (cerebrovascular accident); kidney failure; bleeding in the retina of the eye; it is also a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia. Prevention and treatment
- Lifestyle changes
- Drug treatment
Lifestyle changes: eat less salt; limit fat; choose steamed, boiled and grilled food; eat white meat, especially fish, instead of red meat; choose low-fat dairy products; eat foods rich in vitamin C, including citrus fruits, berries and vegetables; cut cigarettes, alcohol and drugs out of your life; lose weight if you are overweight; exercise regularly, especially walking for 30 minutes on most days of the week.
Drug treatment: the medicines used to treat high blood pressure either lower peripheral resistance, reduce the volume of blood, or reduce the strength and speed of contraction of the heart muscle.
- Dear patient,
- Depending on the causes of your raised blood pressure and your condition, your doctor will prescribe a number of blood pressure medicines for you.
Never stop your blood pressure medicines without consulting your doctor. One side effect of blood pressure medicines is postural hypotension (a drop in blood pressure) that occurs when you change position from lying to sitting or from sitting to standing, and you may experience dizziness and blurred vision. So change position slowly. Symptoms of low blood pressure include: dizziness and loss of balance, weakness and lethargy, headache, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting.
Prepared by: Mohaddeseh Ghasemi – Education Unit
Sources: Phipps and Luckmann, Cardiovascular Diseases, 2012; Brunner and Suddarth, Medical (Internal) Diseases, 2012; Ministry of Health
Document code: NO-BR-13