Understanding Hypertension

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a common medical condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease. To illustrate it, imagine a flexible pipe connected to tap water. When the tap is opened, water flows normally in the pipe, but when the tip of the pipe is pinched, water starts to flow with force. Further, imagine that the water that flows with force is focused on one point in an unplastered cement wall, for example. You will notice that after a period of time, the cement wall starts to leach out as the force or pressure of the water hits it over time. This is what happens inside your body when your blood pressure is high. Over time, the pressure weakens your internal organs, including your kidneys, liver, eyes etc. 

It is important to check your blood pressure regularly. Blood pressure is checked using a manual or automatic sphygmomanometer. The normal blood pressure is 120/80, even though some people may have lower or higher normal, from 110/70 to 125/80. The first figure is the systolic pressure which is the pressure when the heart pumps blood out into the system, while the second figure is the pressure when the heart relaxes. A reading above 140-160/90-100 is usually considered high. Readings above 180/100 are severely elevated  and immediate medical attention should be sought. One reading is not enough to determine whether a person has hypertension. It is advised people check their blood pressures several times during the day at home or at work to prevent the phenomenon where people have high blood pressure when they enter a hospital or pharmacy. You can order your blood pressure machine here.

Several factors control your blood pressure including the output of the heart, the volume of your blood, the resistance in the blood vessels, your nervous system and your hormones. Men are more prone to having hypertension more than women but after menopause, the risk of women approaches that of men. A woman’s risk of having hypertension also increases if she takes oral contraceptives or is pregnant. Hypertension is often called a silent killer because it doesn’t cause any symptoms until complications develop. Understanding the causes, effects, prevention, and treatment of hypertension, therefore, is crucial for maintaining good health.

Causes of Hypertension

Several factors can contribute to the development of hypertension:

• Primary (Essential) Hypertension: For most adults, there’s no identifiable cause of high blood pressure. This type of hypertension, called primary or essential hypertension, tends to develop gradually over many years.
• Secondary Hypertension: Some people have high blood pressure caused by an underlying health condition. This type, called secondary hypertension, tends to appear suddenly and cause higher blood pressure than does primary hypertension. Conditions that can lead to secondary hypertension include:
  • Kidney problems
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Congenital blood vessel defects
  • Certain medications, such as birth control pills, decongestants, and some over-the-counter pain relievers
  • Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines
  • Endocrine tumors
• Risk Factors: Several risk factors increase the likelihood of developing hypertension, including:
  • Age
  • Family history
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Not being physically active
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Too much salt (sodium) in your diet
  • Too little potassium in your diet
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Stress
  • Taking too much stimulants including coffee, tea, energy drinks
  • Oral contraceptives

Effects of Hypertension

Untreated high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems, including:

• Heart attack or stroke: High blood pressure damages arteries, making them more vulnerable to plaque buildup and blockages.
• Heart failure: The increased workload on the heart caused by high blood pressure can cause the heart to thicken or enlarge, leading to heart failure.
• Kidney disease or failure: High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to kidney failure.
• Vision loss: High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the eyes, leading to vision loss.
• Angina: Chest pain can be caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD): Narrowed arteries in the legs can cause pain when walking.

Prevention of Hypertension

Lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of developing hypertension:

• Healthy diet: Focus on fruits (e.g. apple, banana, grapefruit, grapes etc), vegetables (asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, eggplant, green leafy veges etc), whole grains (oats, millet, brown rice, quinoa etc) , and lean protein (skinless chicken breast, beans, greek yoghurt, fish, egg etc). Eat food high in fiber, reduce red meat, and skin of poultry. Avoid animal fat, bacon, beef, chicken liver, corned beef, pork, sausage.
• Limit sodium intake: this isn’t just about adding salt to your prepared food. So many packaged foods and snacks contain high salt content. Do well to read the label and beware when you see salt, sodium, Na, soda or MSG on the label.
• Regular exercise: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Losing even a small amount of weight can lower blood pressure.
• Limit alcohol consumption: If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
• Quit smoking: Smoking damages blood vessels and raises blood pressure.
• Manage stress: Reduce stress and worry, Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation or yoga.
• Sleep: getting a sufficient night rest or deep sleep helps to regulate the blood pressure and keep it down.
• Fasting: fasting for 3 days every month helps to detoxify the body and also keep the liver working optimally.
• Avoid Lead and other heavy metal poisoning
• Avoid excessive cold
• Protect your system from air pollution
• Get a massage
• Find a solution for snoring/ sleep apnea
• Do not abuse antihistamines (piriton, cypron etc)

Treatment of Hypertension

Treatment for hypertension usually involves lifestyle changes and medication:

• Lifestyle changes: Implementing the prevention strategies mentioned above is often the first step in treating hypertension.

• Medication: Several types of medications are available to treat high blood pressure. Your doctor will determine which medication is right for you based on your overall health and other factors. Common medications include:
  • Thiazide diuretics
  • ACE inhibitors
  • Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
  • Beta-blockers
  • Calcium channel blockers

• Food supplements: 

Essential : 

• calcium/magnesium/zinc: deficiency of the trio has been linked to high blood pressure
• Garlic: this herb is effective in lowering blood pressure
• Selenium, Vit C and Vit A: deficiency of these has been linked to heart disease and stroke, they reduce blood clotting tendencies and improve adrenal function 
• L-carnitine, L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine: these aid in preventing heart disease and detoxifying ammonia.  

Very important:

• Coenzyme Q10: this improves heart function and lowers blood pressure
• Essential fatty acid or fish oil: important for circulation and lowering blood pressure
• Green tea: research revealed that drinkers of green tea reduced their blood pressure and slashed the risk of stroke by 50%

Important: 

• Lecithin: emulsifies fat, improve liver function and lowers blood pressure 
• Vitamin E: improves heart function 
• Hawthorn berry: appears to dilate blood vessels, increase intracellular vit. C levels and lowers high blood pressure.

It is crucial to work closely with a healthcare professional to manage hypertension effectively. Regular check-ups and monitoring are essential to ensure that blood pressure is controlled and any potential complications are addressed promptly. Take care if you take diuretics because of the loss of potassium and magnesium as loss of both have been linked to high blood pressure, bone deterioration, and loss of muscle function.

Heavy snorers or people that have sleep apnea are more likely to have high blood pressure. To learn more about this see the article here.

If you have questions or need more  information on your health and wellness do reach out to your Pharmplug pharmacist here. You can order your pharma products on pharmplug.com and if you can’t find the product you seek, contact sales on wa.me/2348148255508.