High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when the pressure in the blood vessels is too high (140|90 mmHg or higher). It occurs when the force of blood pushing against the artery walls is consistently too high.
Although it has no identifiable symptoms, when the pressure hits too high levels of 180|120 mmHg or higher, you may experience severe headaches, chest pains, dizziness, difficulty in breathing, nausea, blurred images, vomiting, and anxiety.
The symptoms are not outright but can lead to heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. It’s a common ailment but fatal if not put in check and due to its lack of outright symptoms, it’s referred to as ‘the silent killer’. It affects around 45 % of adult Americans.
When measuring the pressure, systolic pressure is the top number and it’s the blood pressure when the heart contracts. The figure below it is referred to as diastolic pressure and it’s the blood pressure between beats.
Before the pressure reaches 190|120 mmHg, there are no symptoms and that’s why it’s called the killer disease.
Females have a higher risk due to hormonal factors that change during pregnancy, menopause, and by use of birth control pills. Before menopause, men are more likely to experience hypertension than females, but the reverse occurs after menopause.
It’s argued that hormonal factors, specifically estrogen, help protect women from hypertension, and given that it’s lost during menopause, the protection vanishes.
Other factors that affect hypertension include age, dietary change, and increased Body Mass Index(BMI).

Teenagers tend to develop hypertension due to obesity although a 2021 study shows a decrease in deaths. Among older adults of 18-39 years old, the reduction isn’t that much.
It also affects children, especially those with obesity and diabetes. Other causes include heart problems, tumor, kidney problems, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid problems, a genetic condition such as Cushing’s syndrome, a diet high in fat and salt, and use of certain drugs. If headache, fatigue, vomiting, or changes in mental status occur in children, it indicates severe hypertension.
Newborns or very young babies can sometimes experience high blood pressure due to underlying health conditions such as kidney or heart disease. An infant may also experience feeding problems, seizures, irritability, apnea, rapid breathing, and lethargy.
Types of hypertension.
1. Primary hypertension
This affects 90% of all adult cases of hypertension in the U.S. Its causes include aging and lifestyle factors like lack of enough exercise.
2. Secondary hypertension
This is caused by different medical conditions or medications taken.
The two can coexist such that a new secondary cause can make blood pressure that’s already high even higher.
Causes
High blood pressure occurs when certain changes happen in the body or if the person is born with certain genetic features that cause a health condition. It affects people with obesity, diabetes type 2, kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, interactive or overactive thyroid, congenital conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome. When there’s no cause what the doctor diagnoses is primary hypertension.
TREATMENT
Treatment of hypertension depends on many factors including the level of the blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease or stroke. For slightly high blood pressure, changes in lifestyle is recommended.
For situations of higher blood pressure, medications are prescribed according to how severe it is and the prospects of complications. In other cases, a combination of different medications can be applied. Consuming a low fat diet, maintaining moderate weight, and stopping smoking help lower the risk.
1. Medications
Conventional drugs for treatment include
- Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE)
This drug blocks the action of some hormones that regulate blood pressure which causes arteries to constrict and increase blood volume increasing the blood pressure. The side effects are persistent dry cough, dizziness, fatigue, and weakness. If the side effects persist, angiotensin 11 receptors may be suggested by a specialist Angiotensin 11 should not be used by pregnant women or people with a condition that affects blood supply to the kidneys.
- Calcium Channel Blockers
This aims to decrease calcium levels in the blood vessels which relaxes vascular smooth muscles. Hence the muscles contract less forcefully, the arteries are wider, and the blood pressure is reduced. This medication is not recommended for people with heart disease, liver disease, and blood circulation issues. The side effects that diminish fast include skin redness (cheeks and neck), headaches, dizziness, fatigue, skin rash, swollen abdomen in some cases, and swollen ankles and feet.
- Thiazide Diuretics
This medication helps the kidney remove sodium and water and that leads to lower blood volume and pressure. Side effects that occur and may persist include low blood potassium which can affect heart and kidney function, and impaired glucose tolerance, erectile dysfunction.
People undergoing this medication should undergo blood and urine tests frequently to maintain blood sugar and potassium levels
- Beta-blockers
This medication was once a popular medication for people with hypertension but is now only prescribed when other treatments are ineffective. It slows the heart rate and reduces the force of the heartbeat causing a drop in blood pressure. Side effects include fatigue, cold hands and feet, disturbed sleep and nightmares, and erectile dysfunction. It’s standard medication for hypertensive cases.
- Renin Inhibitors
Aliskiren reduces the production of renin, an enzyme produced by the kidney vessels and which raises blood pressure. Reducing the hormone helps blood vessels to widen and blood pressure to fall. Possible side effects are diarrhea, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and cough
2. Diet
A good diet should consist of plant-based foods which are a nutritious, balanced diet of fruits and vegetables, omega oils, and good quality unrefined carbohydrates whole grains. People should also avoid processed meat.
3. Lowering Salt Intake
Reducing salt consumption and increasing potassium intake helps lower the blood pressure. Limiting salt intake to at least 5-6 grams a day reduces systolic blood pressure by 5.6mmHg and improves cardiovascular health.
4. Nutritious fats
Having plant-based sources of fats like avocados, nuts, olive oil, and omega oil in moderation helps reduce blood pressure. People should avoid or limit intake of saturated fats and trans fats common in animal-sourced and processed foods.
5. DASH Diet
The DASH diet focuses on an eating plan that emphasizes whole grains, fruit vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and low-fat dairy products.
6. Alcohol
The outcome of the research is controversial because some reports indicate that consuming moderate levels of alcohol may help lower blood pressure while others report that even drinking a moderate amount of alcohol might increase blood pressure. Generally, taking high levels of alcohol increases blood pressure.
7. Home Remedies
American Heart Association (AHA) recommends lifestyle adjustments to reduce high blood pressure. The recommendations include managing stress, quitting smoking, having a nutritious diet, exercising, and following a treatment plan.
8. Caffeine
Although contradicting, a report published in 2017 concluded that moderate intake of caffeine is good for high blood pressure patients.
9. Regular Exercise
AHA notes that healthy people should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical exercise a week. This translates into 30 minutes or 3 sessions of 10 minutes each in a day for five days in a week. This should also apply to hypertension patients unless you haven’t been exercising for a long period in which case you need some guidance from the doctor.
10. Losing Weight
Losing 5-10 pounds in weight reduces blood pressure which improves the effectiveness of blood pressure medications. Moderate weight is brought about by regular exercise, diet of plant based foods, and limiting intake of fats and added sugar.
11. Sleep
Too little or poor-quality sleep may make high blood pressure worse. 2015 analysis of data from a Korean health survey reported that people who sleep for less than 5 hours are likely to have hypertension.
12. Natural Remedies
According to Natural Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) the following practices may help reduce blood pressure:
- Meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi
- Biofeedback and transcendental medication
- Supplements such as garlic, flax seed, green or black tea, cocoa, rosella, probiotics.
There is no proof though, but some supplements can have adverse effects of raising blood pressure or reacting with the other forms of medication given. Although medication and exercise therapies are good, some are not perfect for hypertension patients.
DIAGNOSIS
There are different devices for measuring blood pressure, but a person will typically need more than one reading to confirm a diagnosis because of various factors. The blood pressure can fluctuate according to the time of the day, during feelings of anxiety or stress, or after eating. But whatever the case, if the reading indicates a very high blood pressure, action must be taken immediately.
Additional Tests
- Urine and blood test
This helps check underlying problems such as urine infection or kidney damage.
- Exercise Stress Test
Professionals will measure the blood pressure before, during and after using a stationary bicycle or a treadmill. This gives important clues about heart health.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An ECG tests electrical activities in the heart. For a person with hypertension or high cholesterol level, a doctor may order EKG as a compass for comparing future results.
- Holter Monitoring
This is done by a person carrying a portable ECG device for 24 hours. This device connects to their chest through electrodes and provides an overview of electrical activities and changes in the heart throughout the day.
The dangers and side effects are that it can have a severe effect in the cardiovascular system causing arteries to harden hence increasing risk of blockage. The heart blockage can reduce blood flow to the heart increasing risk of angina, heart failure or heart attack, brain blockage in arteries can lower or prevent blood flow to the heart, causing stroke, and kidney damage can cause chronic kidney disease.
GENETICS FACTOR IN HYPERTENSION
The main risk of hypertension is environmental factors but people from certain ethnic and racial backgrounds appear to have a higher risk. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that individuals within a family framework share similar lifestyles such as dietary choices and so if a person happens to be susceptible to high blood pressure and makes lifestyle choices that increase the risk, then they will most likely have a greater chance of having high blood pressure.
COMPLICATIONS
If treatment or measures to curb the condition are not put into place, excessive pressure on artery walls can cause damage to the blood vessels and can damage very vital organs in the body.
Complications include stroke, heart disease, heart failure, heart attack, peripheral artery disease, kidney disease, and vascular dementia, eye problems, metabolism problems, and loss of memory or understanding. Early treatment is therefore recommended.
RISK FACTORS
There are several factors that determine how high blood pressure is distributed. They include:
- Age: The risk of having high blood pressure increases with age due blood vessels being less flexible.
- Obesity and Excess Weight: People with obesity and excess weight are more susceptible to hypertension.
- Physical Activities: Sedentary lifestyles increase the risk of hypertension.
- Smoking: Smoking narrows blood vessels hence increasing blood pressure. It also reduces blood’s oxygen content which makes the heart pump faster to compensate and this in turn increases the blood pressure.
- Alcohol: A lot of alcohol intake increases blood pressure.
- Diet: Diets that are high in unsaturated fats and salt increase blood pressure.
- High Cholesterol: Studies have shown that over 50% of high blood pressure patients have high cholesterol. It should be noted that non nutritious fats contribute to build up of cholesterol in arteries.
- Mental Stress: Chronic stress due to socioeconomic and psychosocial factors increase the effect of high blood pressure.
- Stress: Persistent stress can lead to likelihood of practices such as smoking and drinking which in turn increases the blood pressure.
- Diabetes: High blood pressure often occurs alongside diabetes.
- Pregnancy : Hormonal changes due to pregnancy tend to increase blood pressure. Hypertension can also cause a severe disorder(preeclampsia) in women.
- Sleep Apnea: People with sleep apnea momentarily stop breathing while asleep. This is linked to high blood pressure.
Black Americans (40%) are more likely to have high blood pressure and 30% more likely to die of heart attack than white Americans.
POSTPARTUM HYPERTENSION
This is a condition whereby a person experiences high blood pressure after giving birth. It has serious complications, but it can be treated. In this case, a person’s blood pressure rises 3-6 days after delivery even if they have no history of hypertension. But in the situations of normal hypertension cases, the biggest causes of the condition are increased weight and having diets high in sodium (salt) or low in potassium.