Hypertension: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment

What is Hypertension?
Hypertension occurs when the force of blood against the artery walls is consistently too high. Blood pressure is said to be normal when it is usually anything below 120/80 mmHg, while anything above 140/90 mmHg is termed hypertensive.

Causes of Hypertension
Causes of hypertension include causes that result in increased blood pressure. Below are some examples:

✅ Unhealthy Diet – Excess salt, sugar, and processed food consumption.
✅ Lack of Physical Activity – Sedentary lifestyle producing weight gain and pressure on arteries.
✅ Obesity – Extra weight is burdening the heart.
✅ Gene Factors – A family member with high blood pressure also raises one’s risk.
✅ Chronic Stress – Causes elevation of cortisol levels, which has effects on blood pressure.
✅ Smoking and alcohol – Damaging blood vessels and high blood pressure.
✅ Other Diseases- Especially diabetes, kidney diseases, and hormonal disorders leading to increase in blood pressure.

Symptoms of Hypertension
An important cause of hypertension being the “silent killer” is that most of the time there are no visible symptoms for the patient. Rarely if at all, in some of the advanced severe cases, symptoms may include:

🔹 Headaches
🔹 Dizziness
🔹 Blurred vision
🔹 Chest pain
🔹 Shortness of breath
🔹 Nosebleeds

Complications of Untreated Hypertension
Untreated high blood pressure can cause:

❌ Heart Attack & Stroke
❌ Kidney Failure
❌ Vision Loss
❌ Aneurysms
❌ Memory & Cognitive Problems

Prevention and Management of Hypertension
By undertaking some simple lifestyle modifications, preventive and acute management measures of hypertension can be rather easy.

1. Follow a Heart-Healthy Diet
   🍏 DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension).
   🥦 More fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins.
   🧂 Less salt and processed food intake.
   Healthy fats: olive oil, nuts, and avocados.
2. Physical Activity
   🏃 Regular moderate exercise (e.g., walking, cycling, swimming) for 30 minutes 5 days a week.
   🏋️ Strength training is very healthy for the heart.
3. Healthy Weight
   ⚖️ Losing even 5-10% of your total body weight can greatly reduce blood pressure.
4. Stress Management
   🧘 Try meditation and deep breathing or yoga for relaxation.
   😴 Prioritize 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night.
5. Check Blood Pressure Regularly
   📊 Use a home blood pressure monitor to record readings.
   🩺 See your doctor for regular reviews.
6. Do Not Smoke and Limit Alcohol Consumption
   🚭 Smoking cessation enhances all aspects of heart health.
   🍷 Alcohol should be restricted to moderate amounts (1 drink per day for women, 2 for men).

Conclusion
Hypertension is a significant ailment that can be controlled relatively easily with lifestyle changes, continuous monitoring, and medical support. Hypertension is not the end of life; you are living a life outside hypertension.