Hypertension: What is it, symptoms and treatment

A person’s blood pressure is the expression of the pressure created by blood circulation within the arteries. Blood pressure is evaluated in two parts: systolic blood pressure, commonly known as systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure, commonly known as diastolic blood pressure. The unit of blood pressure is millimeters of mercury. Systolic blood pressure defines the maximum pressure in the large arteries after the heart contracts and pumps the blood in it. Diastolic blood pressure is used to define the minimum pressure in these vessels during rest between two beats of the heart.

What is Hypertension?

High pressure exerted by the blood in the blood vessels against the vessel wall is defined as hypertension. Prolonged high blood pressure causes damage to the inner lining of the vessel. High blood pressure, which causes blockage, rupture or dilation in the vessels, impairs blood flow and organ failure may occur. An adult’s diastolic blood pressure being higher than 90 mmHg and systolic blood pressure being higher than 140 mmHg in 3 separate measurements are sufficient to diagnose hypertension.

Hypertension, which means high blood pressure, is a condition that is one of the leading preventable risk factors for various diseases such as heart failure, heart attack, some rhythm disorders such as atrial fibrillation, and chronic kidney disease. Therefore, it is important that blood pressure (blood pressure) is within normal ranges in order to maintain healthy body functions. Hypertension is classified into various stages according to measured blood pressure values. Blood pressure values ​​between 140/90 mmHg and 159/99 mmHg are considered stage 1 hypertension. Blood pressure values ​​between 160/100 mmHg and 179/109 mmHg are called stage 2 hypertension. Stage 3 hypertension is the definition used if the systolic blood pressure is determined to be 180 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure is 110 mmHg or above. Acute Severe Hypertension is used for situations where high blood pressure exceeds 180/110 mmHg and has reached life-threatening levels where clinical events that damage organs occur. (Hypertensive encephalopathy, Acute ischemic stroke, Acute aortic dissection, Intracerebral hemorrhage, Acute left heart failure, Acute coronary syndromes)

What Causes Hypertension?

There are many risk factors that may predispose a person to the development of high blood pressure. The risk of developing hypertension increases with advancing age. Having hypertension patients among family members and relatives is also among the factors considered risky for the development of hypertension. Apart from these cases, people who are overweight, do not engage in physical activity or smoke tobacco are also considered to be at risk for the development of hypertension. Situations that may cause an increase in blood pressure in a person are examined in two groups: primary and secondary causes. The definition of primary hypertension is a term used when the condition that may cause high blood pressure in the person cannot be detected. Primary hypertension tends to develop clinically slowly over time. The concept of secondary hypertension indicates that high blood pressure in a person occurs as a result of a certain health condition. Unlike primary hypertension, high blood pressure that develops secondarily as a result of a cause rises suddenly. Secondary hypertension may occur after various illnesses and the use of certain medications or substances. Following are the factors that can cause hypertension:

• High salt consumption
• stress, obesity
• genetic factors
• diabetes, cholesterol
• Low physical activity
• Malnutrition of magnesium, potassium and calcium
• Birth control pills, some painkillers
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• kidney disorders
• Adrenal gland tumors
• thyroid disorders
• Abnormalities related to vascular development that occur while the baby is in the womb
• After using prohibited substances such as cocaine or amphetamines

What are the symptoms of hypertension?

Hypertension is a health problem that usually progresses insidiously while it is developing and can persist without causing any symptoms in people. Symptoms of high blood pressure become apparent in some people years after the development of hypertension. There are many signs and symptoms that may indicate that a person has serious hypertension:

• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Nose bleeding
• Blushing
• Palpitation
• Weakness
• Tinnitus
• Dizziness
• chest pain
• Problems with vision
• Presence of blood in urine

The emergence of such symptoms along with hypertension is important because they are warning signs that require treatment from health institutions and that bigger problems may develop if they wait.

Hypertension Diagnosis and Treatment

If the blood pressure measurements taken by the physician during the routine physical examination are determined to be higher than normal, if this situation is also detected in the measurements taken in the following days, the presence of hypertension in the person can be revealed. Regular measurements are performed taking into account that a person’s blood pressure can be affected by environmental factors. If the blood pressure values ​​obtained through measurements are found to be consistently high, various diagnostic tests such as urine, blood, ECG and ultrasonography may be performed by the physician in order to reveal the disorders that may cause this condition in the person. During this period, if deemed appropriate by the physician, hypertension treatment can be started to prevent the harmful effects of high blood pressure on the organs. One of the most important stages in the long-term management and treatment of hypertension is a number of practices called lifestyle changes:

• Healthy and balanced diet
• Regular physical activity
• Reducing body weight to healthy limits
• Ending active or passive exposure to tobacco smoke
• Successful stress management
• Restricting the amount of salt taken with the diet
• Limiting the consumption of products containing caffeine

In addition to these lifestyle changes, there are various hypertension medications prescribed by physicians that act through many different mechanisms. In cases deemed necessary by the physician, the use of various combinations of these drugs may be considered to control the person’s high blood pressure.

• Diuretics

Diuretic drugs, popularly known as diuretics, are a group of drugs that enable the excretion of excess water and salt from the body through the kidneys. The amount of fluid in the bloodstream is reduced by the use of diuretics, which are one of the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of hypertension.

• Beta blockers

Medicines classified as beta-blockers are drugs that reduce the strength and speed of heart beats. After the use of these drugs, the amount of blood pumped by the heart decreases and the pressure in the blood vessels is also reduced.

• ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) Inhibitors

Hypertension drugs classified as Ace inhibitors are a group of drugs that suppress the secretion of the hormone called angiotensin 2, which causes the veins to contract. With the use of these drugs, blood pressure in the dilated vessels is reduced.

• Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blockers

The drugs in this group used for the treatment of hypertension directly block the effects of the angiotensin hormone in the bloodstream.

• Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium mineral plays a role in the contraction of muscle structures in the body. By using drugs that block the channels of this mineral, it is aimed to prevent excessive contraction of the muscle tissue in the structure of the heart and vessels and to reduce the high blood pressure to normal levels.

• Alpha-2 Agonists

The drugs in this group act on the nervous system and aim to suppress the electrical activities that stimulate the narrowing of the vessels. In this way, it is aimed to cause dilation of the vessels and reduce blood pressure. If the cause of hypertension development is clarified by the physician, treatment planning is carried out according to this underlying cause. By treating these causes of hypertension, a person’s blood pressure can return to normal levels.