What is Hypertension and Why should You Worry About it?

Jake — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:55:58 +0000

Blood flow through an artery

Let’s start with the basics. If you’re anything like me, the more you know about hypertension (or high blood pressure), the easier it will be for you to understand and discuss traditional and alternative treatment plans with your doctor.

Think of a simple bicycle pump

When you push down on the handle, air rushes through the tube into the bike tire. The air exerts pressure against the sidewalls of the pump hose, just as blood exerts pressure on your blood vessels when your heart pumps. Then, there’s a pause in the pressure as you raise the pump handle to pump again. There’s also a pause in your blood pressure as your heart pauses between beats.

These different blood pressures have names, when your heart pumps, the pressure is greater and it’s called systolic pressure. As your heart pauses between beats (for just a fraction of a second), the pressure lessens and it’s called diastolic pressure.

So what is normal blood pressure?

The rules have changed. Until a few years ago, 120/80 (you read this as 120 over 80, systolic pressure over diastolic pressure) was considered normal. Now, according to the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC), risk of cardiovascular disease starts with anything above a reading of 115/75.

However, because there are so many variables that can affect blood pressure, health professionals usually classify normal blood pressure as a range with 120/80 being the upper limit of normal.

Blood pressure measuring above 120/80 to 139/89 is classified pre-hypertensive. Anyone in this range is at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure.

Next is stage 1 hypertension with readings of 140/90 to 159/99.

Readings of 160/100 and above is stage 2 hypertension.

It isn’t necessary for both numbers to be elevated. A rise in either systolic and/or diastolic pressure can signify high blood pressure.

Although it was once thought that a higher diastolic measurement was of greater concern, it’s now known that an elevated systolic number is more dangerous for people over 50.

How do you know if you have high blood pressure?

Hypertension that is classified as mild to moderate usually has no symptoms. There’s really only one way to know. Get your blood pressure checked.

It’s estimated that around one third of the adult population of the United States has high blood pressure (approximately 73 million adults). And as many as one third of you don’t know it and aren’t being treated for it.

That means that every third adult you see as you walk down the street or in the grocery store could have high blood pressure. And if you consider only people over 50, every other person may be hypertensive.

So, if you haven’t had your blood pressure checked recently, schedule it now.

If your doctor get’s a higher than normal reading, you’ll need to return at a later date to have it checked at least once more. This is because your blood pressure can vary from day to day and throughout the day.

It’s also affected by stress, some people stress out just being in the doctor’s office (with subsequent higher bp readings. This is known as “white coat hypertension”). But don’t dismiss this as nothing to worry about. The everyday stresses of your job, or family or financial problems could be having the same effect on your blood pressure every day.

For a proper diagnosis of hypertension, your blood pressure readings need to be consistently high when averaged over two or more visits.

But you don’t feel anything, so what’s the big deal?

It’s a very big deal. While you’re going along not feeling anything, a lot of damage is being done to your body.

Damage caused by constant high pressure of your blood against your artery walls leads to thickening and hardening of the wall and restriction of the artery passage.

This makes your heart work harder. Which can lead to an enlarged heart and subsequently heart failure, coronary artery disease and cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms).

Reduced blood flow to your heart can cause angina (chest pain), damage to your heart and heart attack.

Damage to the arteries in the brain has been tied to dementia in your later years. And if an artery in your brain ruptures or becomes blocked it can cause a stroke.

Sight impairment or blindness can result if an artery in your eye burst.

If the blood vessels in your kidneys are affected, kidney disease or kidney failure can result.

Next step?

Find out if you have hypertension
If you do, follow your doctors instructions
Come back here to find out what you can do to help yourself

Don’t put it off. If you wait too long, some of the damage, including death, may not be reversible.