Hypertension, i.e., High blood pressure, is a medical condition that many people experience, from time to time or permanently. In this condition, the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls gets high enough to cause health diseases eventually. It may also cause severe complications like heart diseases, heart attack or stroke, heart failure, brain hemorrhage, Dementia, etc. Blood pressure can be determined by two factors, the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries and the amount of blood your heart pumps. The narrower your arteries are and the more blood your heart pumps, the higher your blood pressure gets. BP measurements are noted in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). It consists of two numbers.

• Systolic pressure (top number): The upper or first number measures the pressure of blood in your arteries when your heart beats.
• Diastolic pressure (bottom number): The lower or second number measures the blood pressure in your arteries between beats.

What Are The Symptoms?

Most people suffer from high blood pressure without noticing any major symptoms or signs, even if it reaches dangerously high levels. This is because hypertension doesn’t have a direct physical impact, and the symptoms can be really unnoticeable. You can have high blood pressure for years, and you may mistake it for your casual headache or tiredness. However, there are some minor symptoms that you can use as hints to diagnose high blood pressure. A few people having high blood pressure may feel shortness of breath, headaches, or nosebleeds. If high blood pressure is not controlled instantly, it can increase the risk of leading to serious health complications, including those mentioned above. Once you know your blood pressure is high, you can work with your doctor or call a blood pressure consultant to control it.

What Causes Hypertension?

High blood pressure can be divided into two basic types:

Primary Hypertension:

This type of high blood pressure tends to develop gradually over many years or as age increases. There’s no identifiable cause of high blood pressure for most adults.

Secondary Hypertension

This type of high blood pressure tends to appear suddenly and causes higher blood pressure than primary hypertension. Some people have high blood pressure caused by an underlying condition or as a result of various medications, including:

• Kidney disease
• Thyroid problems
• Certain medications, such as cold remedies, decongestants, birth control pills, some prescription drugs, and over-the-counter pain relievers.
• If you’re born with certain defects (congenital) in blood vessels
• Adrenal gland tumors
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines

What are the Risk Factors?

There are several factors that put you at risk of high blood pressure. They include:

• Age:

As you age, the risk of high blood pressure increases. High blood pressure is more common in men until about age 64, whereas women are more likely to be at risk of high blood pressure after the age of 65.

• Family history:

Family history can also put you at risk of having high blood pressure.

• Being obese or overweight:

The heavier you weigh, the more blood you require for oxygen and nutrients to be supplied to your tissues. As the amount of blood flow increases, the pressure on your artery walls increases too.

• Not having enough physical activity:

People who are not physically active enough tend to have higher heart rates. When the heart rate gets high, the harder your heart must work with each contraction, making the force on your arteries stronger. Lack of physical activity also increases the risk of being obese.

To Wrap Up:

With that said, you must stay alert for any of the symptoms mentioned above and consult a BP specialist as soon as you notice any.