Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a major health issue affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide. In the United States alone, one in every three adults has hypertension.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension is a condition in which the force of blood against the walls of your arteries is consistently too high. Over time, this can damage your blood vessels, heart, and other major organs of your body.

In some cases, hypertension can lead to serious health issues, such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

What causes hypertension?

The most common causes of hypertension are lifestyle factors, including:

Being overweight or obese
Not getting enough physical activity
Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke
Too much salt in your diet
Too much alcohol consumption

In addition to lifestyle factors, hypertension can also be caused by underlying medical conditions, such as kidney disease, sleep apnea, and thyroid disorders.

How is hypertension diagnosed?

Hypertension is diagnosed by your healthcare provider through a blood pressure reading. Blood pressure is measured by two numbers: systolic and diastolic.

Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats, while diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest between beats.

Normal blood pressure is considered to be less than 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure is classified as follows:.

Stage 1 hypertension: 130-139/80-89 mmHg
Stage 2 hypertension: 140/90 mmHg or higher

It is important to get your blood pressure checked regularly by your health care provider to detect hypertension early and manage it properly.

How is hypertension treated?

The treatment for hypertension will depend on the severity of your condition. For milder cases, lifestyle changes such as losing weight, exercising regularly, and reducing salt and alcohol intake may be enough to manage hypertension.

For more severe cases, medication may be prescribed to lower blood pressure levels.

It is important to work with your healthcare provider to develop a personalized treatment plan. Hypertension is a chronic condition that requires ongoing management to prevent serious health issues from developing.

What are the complications of hypertension?

If hypertension is left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications, including:.

Heart attack
Stroke
Kidney disease
Vision loss
Sexual dysfunction

It is important to take hypertension seriously and manage it properly to prevent these complications from developing.

How can hypertension be prevented?

While there is no surefire way to prevent hypertension, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk:.

Maintain a healthy weight
Exercise regularly
Reduce salt and alcohol intake
Quit smoking
Have regular blood pressure checks

By adopting a healthy lifestyle and working with your healthcare provider to manage your blood pressure levels, you can lower your risk of developing hypertension and the complications associated with it.

Conclusion

While hypertension affects millions of people worldwide, it is a preventable and manageable condition with proper lifestyle changes and medical treatment.

If you think you may have hypertension, it is important to see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.