Basic understanding of Hypertension

The human body is made up of a very important part which is the circulatory system,

The circulatory system comprises of the following

1.       The heart which helps to pump the blood round the body

2.       The blood vessels which is the pathway of blood flow

3.       The  blood  which is the fluid that help to carry oxygen,nutrients and waste from one part of the body to another.

The normal pressure at which  blood is been pumped through the blood vessels is 120/70 mmHg but this figure changes (rises) due to advance of age, this means as you grow older your blood pressure rises above normal ; The blood pressure is measured with an instrument known as sphygrnomanometer which tells the systolic pressure (the blood pressure of the general circulation) and diastolic (the blood pressure of the heat when it relax and refill its chambers with blood).

Hypertension is the constant elevation of the systemic blood pressure(blood pressure in the ateries).

Hypertension hardly have symptoms that’s why an individual can hypertension and will not  know.

    It’s a general agreement that the blood pressure rises as an individual ages, so its advisable that individual between the age of 40-60 years should at least check their blood pressure once or twice every two weeks

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  The cause of hypertension is unknown in 80% of patients, this kind of hypertension is known as Essential hypertension, it can be managed but can not be cured. An individual who is calm and have a normal stress free life could still be hypertensive since hypertension is not really determined by the level of stress or worries ,though they are factors that can lead to increase in blood pressure.

Stages of hypertension

Prehypertension:this is a stage where the blood pressure of an individual is rises above normal, but not to the level of been hypertensive(high blood pressure)such an individual will have a blood pressure reading of  120-139 Mm Hg as systolic pressure or  80-89 Mm Hg as diastolic pressure.when the readings is 140/90 Mm Hg or more than,the individual is said to be hypertensive.

Stage1 hypertension:this is when the blood pressure elevates to 140-159 Mm Hg for systolic and 90-99 Mm Hg.

Stage2  hypertension: this is when the blood pressure elevates to 160 Mm Hg for systolic and 100 Mm Hg.

Hypertensive crisis: this is when the blood pressure elevates to 160-180 Mm Hg for systolic and 99-110 Mm Hg,this is a serious case and the individual will have to be in the emergency unit of the hospitals so that theblood pressure can be reduced with the right treatment.

Some etiologies of Essential hypertension

Ø  Genetic  variation

Ø  Aging

Ø  Salt intake

Ø  Obesity

Ø  Alcohol

Ø  Diabetes

Ø  Smoking

Ø  Vitamin deficiency

Ø  Lack  of excercise

Simple management of Hypertension

Ø  Sleeping well st night

Ø  Drastic reduction of salt in the diet

Ø  Regular exercise

Ø  Use of medication as instructed by the physicians

Ø  Intake of fruits

Ø  Regular  home mornitoring of blood pressure