Hypertension affects millions of people worldwide, including many in India. Hypertension or high blood pressure is when the blood pressure is continuously high. The force of blood against artery walls while the heart pumps blood is known as blood pressure. Hypertension can put one at risk for heart disease, stroke, and renal failure, among other conditions. To effectively manage this condition, routine examinations and early detection are essential. 

How Hypertension Affects Your Body

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, accelerates plaque buildup in blood vessels and restricts blood flow, causing reduced blood flow and further organ damage. It also strains the heart, which can lead to heart failure and irregular heartbeats.

How is Blood Pressure Measured?

Blood pressure is measured by two numbers, separated by a slash when written, such as 120/80. The first number is systolic, or the peak blood pressure when your heart squeezes the blood out. The second number is diastolic, which is the pressure with which your heart is filling with blood­ and relaxing between beats.

Normal blood pressure is when the systolic blood pressure is lower than 120 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure is lower than 80 mmHg. When an adult suffers from hypertension, his systolic blood pressure is 130 mmHg or higher, and his diastolic blood pressure is 80 mmHg or higher.

Stages of Hypertension

• Elevated blood pressure: Systolic 120 to 129 mm Hg and diastolic lower than 80 mm Hg
• Stage 1 hypertension: Systolic 130 to 139 mm Hg or diastolic 80 to 89 mm Hg
• Stage 2 hypertension: Systolic 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic 90 mm Hg or higher
• Hypertensive crisis: Systolic pressure higher than 180 mm Hg and/or diastolic higher than 120 mm Hg. In such cases, one must seek immediate medical attention. 

Common Terms Used to Describe Hypertension

Isolated diastolic hypertension occurs when the systolic blood pressure is lower than 130 mm Hg and the diastolic blood pressure is 80 mm Hg or higher.

Resistant hypertension means even when someone takes three or more types of blood pressure pills in the right amounts; their blood pressure stays too high.

Hypertensive urgency occurs when blood pressure spikes suddenly (the bottom number, diastolic, is higher than 120 mm Hg), but there's no sign of immediate organ damage.

Hypertensive emergency happens when blood pressure shoots up suddenly (with the bottom number, diastolic, higher than 120 mm Hg) and causes severe damage to organs like the heart, kidneys, or brain.

White-coat hypertension means your blood pressure is higher when measured at the doctor's office or hospital compared to when measured at home or in your usual daily surroundings.

Causes of Hypertension

Most people with high blood pressure have essential hypertension (primary hypertension) when there is no known cause for high blood pressure. This type of blood pressure usually takes many years to develop and probably results from your lifestyle and environment, which include:

• High salt intake
• Being overweight
• Sedentary lifestyles
• Smoking and excessive alcohol intake
• Age: A significant increase in hypertension prevalence has been noted in middle-aged and older adults.
• Genetics: A family history of hypertension can increase your risk of developing hypertension.
• Poor sleep patterns include short sleep duration, difficulty sleeping, and sleep apnea symptoms.

In about 10% of people with high blood pressure, the cause can be pinpointed. This might be due to conditions like kidney disease (narrowing or damage to the kidney arteries or problems with kidney tissue), hyperaldosteronism (a hormone issue), obstructive sleep apnea (a breathing problem during sleep), Cushing's disease (a hormone disorder), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), untreated hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland), coarctation of the aorta (a birth defect in the main artery leaving the heart), or pheochromocytoma (a rare tumor). 
Some medications, like steroids, birth control pills, and pain relievers (NSAIDs), can also raise blood pressure.

Symptoms and Signs of Hypertension

• High blood pressure, even if it doesn't always show symptoms, can lead to serious health issues. 
• Mild headaches, dizziness, or nose bleedings are sometimes reported with elevated blood pressure, but they do not necessarily indicate end-organ dysfunction if physical examination findings are normal.

Symptoms of Organ Dysfunction

• Dyspnea or shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Severe and uncontrolled headaches
• Blurry vision
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Excessive sleepiness

Signs of an Underlying Cause for High Blood Pressure:

• Polyuria (frequent urination), oliguria (reduced urination), edema (swelling), dysuria (painful urination), and flank pain.
• Headache, dizziness, palpitations, fainting, vision problems, and excessive sweating 
• Changes in body shape, like gaining weight around the belly, developing a hump on the back, a round face, or purple stretch marks.
• A high-pitched whooshing sound in the abdomen can be heard throughout the heartbeat.
• Cold hands and feet, pain in the legs when walking, and a big difference in blood pressure between the arms and legs (with the upper body being 20 mm Hg higher than the lower body).

Understanding these warning signs and healthy lifestyle changes can help prevent or manage hypertension. Early detection can also prevent serious health issues. If you experience any of these symptoms, seeking immediate medical attention is crucial.

Complications of Hypertension

Risks and Potential Side Effects

Effective management of hypertension in the early stages is crucial to prevent future complications. If left untreated, hypertension can damage blood vessels and put a strain on organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes, causing potential damage. Managing blood pressure through lifestyle changes and medication prevents severe complications in these organs.

Future Health Risks of Hypertension

The outcome of hypertension depends on its duration, severity, and how well it is managed. If left untreated, it can lead to heart attack, heart failure, strokes, eye damage, nerve damage, and kidney failure. With the proper treatment, the chances of getting better are much higher, and the risk of complications decreases.

Detection and Diagnosis of Hypertension

Screening for this illness is especially important because it frequently has no symptoms. It is possible to properly manage high blood pressure with the correct medication and lifestyle adjustments. It is advised that those 40 years of age or older and those more susceptible to high blood pressure have annual screenings. It is recommended that the screening be performed every three to five years for persons between the ages of 18 and 39 who do not have a higher risk of hypertension and who have previously had blood pressure readings within the reference range.

Hypertension can be diagnosed by history and physical examination, an eye exam, and blood pressure readings taken at least twice using a blood pressure monitor. Additionally, avoiding getting your blood pressure checked when you're sick or in pain is imperative because those readings could be higher than usual.

Following a diagnosis of hypertension, the routine examinations that are done to look for organ damage and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors include:

• Blood glucose levels during fasting and hemoglobin A1C 
• Serum calcium, potassium, and sodium concentrations
• Serum creatinine and BUN values (together with measured or estimated GFR)
• Lipid profile while fasting
• Urine analysis
• Echocardiography and ECG

Treatment of Hypertension

Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising frequently, limiting alcohol intake, managing stress, getting enough sleep, and giving up smoking are all important aspects of managing hypertension. Adequate blood pressure management requires regular blood pressure monitoring and adherence to prescribed medication regimens.

Conclusion

Keep in mind that high blood pressure dramatically increases the risk of renal failure, heart attacks, and strokes; regular checks are essential for early detection because it usually exhibit no symptoms. Medication and lifestyle changes are necessary to manage hypertension. One should consume a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, exercise frequently, cut back on alcohol, and give up smoking to prevent or control hypertension. Keep an eye out for symptoms such as headaches, lightheadedness, blurred vision, exhaustion, chest pain, and nosebleeds. To recognize these signs early, seek medical advice if they occur. Normal blood pressure for most individuals is less than 120/80, which may be affected by various factors like age, medical conditions, etc.