Hypertension
is arterial blood pressure above the normal range for a particular
age group. What would be considered a normal blood pressure
in a man of 80 years would be hypertension in a child of 10
years. Hypertension is very common. It is difficult to be statistically
accurate about how common as the goalposts, of what level of
blood pressure constitutes hypertension, are constantly being
moved. Illnesses such as kidney disease and some hormone conditions
can cause hypertension but in the vast majority of cases, approximately
95%, there is no obvious cause. These cases are referred to
as “Essential hypertension”. Hypertension, except in its most severe form, does not give any symptoms at all. It is made worse by things like obesity, high salt intake, little exercise etc. It runs in families. We cannot alter our parent so the same attitude should apply as in atherosclerosis (see. Atherosclerosis). Discussion with a doctor can determine what a person’s target blood pressure should be and if there is some concern patients, themselves can monitor their own blood pressure on a BP measuring machine at home.
As already stated, hypertension provides no warning symptoms. It is not uncommon to see people in a doctor’s surgery who feel perfectly well, who have a catastrophically high blood pressures. People with a raised blood pressure may have headaches but the headaches are almost certainly caused by the stress, or whatever it is that is also causing them to have a raised blood pressure. It is essential, therefore, for all adults to have their blood pressure checked from time to time. It may need to be checked several times if it is raised as some people always get a rise in blood pressure when they see a doctor- “White coat hypertension”. If untreated, hypertension can lead, amongst other things, to stroke, kidney disease and heart failure. Medical management will depend upon a variety of anti-hypertensive medications (some of which adversely react with herbal products) and life-style advice – reduction of stress, attention to diet, NO SMOKING, in some cases, reduction of salt intake. Reduction of salt intake particularly applies to Afro-Caribbeans who not only have a high salt intake but who also have a much higher tendency to hypertension, often very difficult to treat, than the general population. Modern management of diabetes insists that those suffering from the condition should have their blood pressure controlled particularly carefully as hypertension and diabetes in the same person is a high risk factor for serious complications. |
