High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.
Blood pressure is determined both by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. A blood pressure reading is given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). It has two numbers.
- Top number (systolic pressure). The first, or upper, number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.
- Bottom number (diastolic pressure). The second, or lower, number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats.
Symptoms
Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels.
A few people with high blood pressure may have headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds, but these signs and symptoms aren't specific and usually don't occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage.
What are 4 major causes of high blood pressure?
- A diet high in salt, fat, and/or cholesterol.
- Chronic conditions such as kidney and hormone problems, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
- Family history, especially if your parents or other close relatives have high blood pressure.
- Lack of physical activity.
Management and treatment
Regular physical exercise
Current guidelines recommend that all people, including those with hypertension, engage in at least 150 minutesTrusted Source of moderate-intensity, aerobic exercise every week, or 75 minutes per week of high-intensity exercise.
Alongside 150 minutes of exercise, most adults will benefit from engaging in strength training at least twice per week.
People should exercise at least 5 days every week.
Examples of suitable activities are:
- walking
- jogging
- cycling
- swimming
Stress Reduction
A few relaxation techniques that can help relieve stress are:
- meditation
- warm baths
- yoga
- going on long walks
Medication
People can use specific medications to treat hypertension. Doctors will often recommend a low dose at first. Antihypertensive medications will usually only have minor side effects.
Eventually, people with hypertension may need to combine two or moreTrusted Source drugs to manage their blood pressure.
Medications for hypertension include:
- diuretics, including thiazides, chlorthalidone, and indapamide
- beta-blockers and alpha-blockers
- calcium-channel blockers
- central agonists
- peripheral adrenergic inhibitor
- vasodilators
- angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- angiotensin receptor blockers
The choice of medication depends on the individual and any underlying medical conditions they may experience.
Anyone taking antihypertensive medications should carefully read the labels of any over-the-counter (OTC) drugs they may also take, such as decongestants. These OTC drugs may interact with the medications they are taking to lower their blood pressure.
What is the first aid for high blood pressure?
Sit down and focus on your breathing. Take a few deep breaths and hold them for a few seconds before releasing. Take your blood pressure medication if your doctor has prescribed something for you. A cup of hibiscus or chamomile tea can also help you feel calmer, it is a good idea to stock up on these teabags.
Is it okay to sleep with high blood pressure?
The less you sleep, the higher your blood pressure may go. People who sleep six hours or less may have steeper increases in blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, not sleeping well may make your blood pressure worse.
