High Blood Pressure

Understanding and Treating High Blood Pressure

What is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, increases the risk of serious health problems, most notably heart attack and stroke. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood the heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in a person’s arteries. The more blood a heart pumps and the narrower the arteries are, the higher the blood pressure is.

High blood pressure usually develops over many years, and most people experience it at some point in their lives. High blood pressure can be easily detected. And luckily, when a person knows that they have high blood pressure, there are simple measures to take to get it back under control.

Blood pressure is given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), and has two numbers. The first (upper) number measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure). The second (lower) number measures the pressure in the arteries between beats (diastolic pressure).

In 2017, American Heart Association issued their most recent blood pressure guidelines. They are divided into five general categories:

  • Normal: Less than 120/80 mm Hg;
  • Elevated: Systolic between 120-129 and diastolic less than 80;
  • Stage 1: Systolic between 130-139 or diastolic between 80-89;
  • Stage 2: Systolic at least 140 or diastolic at least 90 mm Hg;
  • Hypertensive crisis: Systolic over 180 and/or diastolic over 120, with patients needing prompt changes in medication if there are no other indications of problems, or immediate hospitalization if there are signs of organ damage.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

One of the more worrisome aspects of having high blood pressure is that there usually isn’t a sign that gives you a signal that you are suffering from high blood pressure.

There are some symptoms, such as headachesdizzy spells or abnormal nosebleeds. However, these symptoms usually occur when high blood pressure is in an advanced, and potentially lethal, stage of development.

High Blood Pressure Causes

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

To understand the causes of high blood pressure, you need to know the difference between the two types of high blood pressure:

Essential hypertension

In as much as 95 percent of adult high blood pressure cases, a cause cannot be identified. This is called essential hypertension (or primary hypertension), and it tends to develop over many years.

Secondary hypertension

The remaining five percent or so of high blood pressure cases are caused by an underlying condition, which is referred to as secondary hypertension. Unlike essential hypertension, this usually appears out of the blue. There are different types of conditions and medications that can lead to secondary hypertension:

  • Kidney abnormalities
  • Adrenal gland tumors
  • Some congenital heart defects
  • Medications, such as over-the-counter pain relievers, birth control, cold remedies, decongestants, and other prescription drugs
  • Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines

While hypertension can be a silent ailment at times, it is linked to certain concrete risk factors. One is hardly in your power to change, and that is genetics. Your age and race come into play as well. In fact, African Americans are twice as likely as Caucasians to have high blood pressure. That gap narrows once people start to reach middle age (mid to late 40s).

Another significant risk factor for essential hypertension is your diet and lifestyle. One of the most compelling connections between diet and high blood pressure is your sodium intake. Time and again it has been shown that people with a high intake of salt are at a much higher risk of high blood pressure than those who keep their sodium intake to a minimum.

Other factors that are associated with essential hypertension are obesity, diabetes, stress; smoking, low intake of potassium, calcium and magnesium; a sedentary lifestyle and chronic alcohol consumption.

While hypertension can be a silent ailment at times, it is linked to certain concrete risk factors. One is hardly in your power to change, and that is genetics. Your age and race come into play as well. In fact, African Americans are twice as likely as Caucasians to have high blood pressure. That gap narrows once people start to reach middle age (mid to late 40s).

Another significant risk factor for essential hypertension is your diet and lifestyle. One of the most compelling connections between diet and high blood pressure is your sodium intake. Time and again it has been shown that people with a high intake of salt are at a much higher risk of high blood pressure than those who keep their sodium intake to a minimum.

Other factors that are associated with essential hypertension are obesity, diabetes, stress; smoking, low intake of potassium, calcium and magnesium; a sedentary lifestyle and chronic alcohol consumption.

High Blood Pressure Treatment

There are multiple ways that high blood pressure can be treated. The most natural way is a lifestyle change. Diet is a particular concern, especially sodium intake. If measures are taken to improve diet and to get more exercise, it’s possible that can often bring blood pressure to normal levels. However, that is not always the case. If diet and exercise alone doesn’t work, a doctor may recommend medical treatment.

Some of the more prominent medication used to control high blood pressure include the following:

ACE Inhibitors – An ACE inhibitor (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) works by inhibiting the formation of the angiotensin converting enzyme, which causes the muscles surrounding blood vessels to contract. This helps widen the patient’s blood vessels to increase the amount of blood the heart pumps, thereby lowering blood pressure. Some top ACE Inhibitors include:

  • Benazepril
  • Captopril
  • Ramipril
  • Capoten
  • Vasotec
  • Aceon
  • Accupril
  • Univasc
  • Mavik
  • Monapril

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers – Unlike ACE inhibitors, an angiotensin II receptor blocker inhibits the action – not formation – of the angiotensin converting enzyme, allowing blood to flow readily through your body, lowering blood pressure. Learn what options are available and their side effects. Brand names of ARBs include:

  • Atacand
  • Teveten
  • Avapro
  • Hyzaar
  • Benicar
  • Micardis
  • Diovan HCT
  • Cozaar

Diuretics – Often referred to as water pills, diuretics act upon the kidneys to help your body get rid of excess water and salt through the urine. This helps lower blood pressure. Brand names of various types of diuretics include:

  • Hygroton
  • Lasix
  • Esidrix
  • Hydrodiuril
  • Microzide
  • Lozol
  • Mykrox
  • Zaroxolyn

Potassium-sparing diuretics:

  • Midamar
  • Aldactone
  • Dyrenium

Combination diuretics:

  • Moduretic
  • Aldactazide
  • Dyazide
  • Maxzide

Beta-Blockers – These medications work by causing your heart to beat slower and with less force, reducing the workload on your heart and opening your blood vessels. Brand name medications include:

  • Sectral
  • Tenormin
  • Kerlone
  • Zebeta
  • Cartrol
  • Lopressor
  • Toprol-XL
  • Corgard
  • Levatol
  • Visken
  • Inderal
  • Blocadren

Calcium Channel Blockers – This blocking medication also helps widen blood vessels and make it easier for the heart to pump blood. It does so by relaxing muscles in your blood vessels. Brand name medications include:

  • Norvasc
  • Cardizem CD
  • Cardizem SR
  • Dilacor XR
  • Tiazac
  • Plendil
  • DynaCirc
  • DynaCirc CR
  • Cardene SR
  • Adalat CC
  • Procardia XL
  • Sular
  • Calan SR
  • Covera HS
  • Isoptin SR
  • Verelan

Alternative Blood Pressure Treatments

There are many natural and herbal remedies for high blood pressure. Keep in mind that they are not always backed up by scientific peer-reviewed studies. Consult your doctor before you consider alternative medicines as your sole or primary remedy.

Herbal Teas – Herbal teas are a soothing and tasty way to treat high blood pressure. A study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension showed that hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure.

Garlic – It has all kinds of health benefits, one of which is controlling blood pressure levels. The best part is that garlic is easy to incorporate into your diet.

Olive Leaf – Researchers from Germany and Switzerland conducted a study on an olive leaf extract. They found that 1,000 mg of the EFLA®943 extract had substantial effects on people with borderline hypertension.

Coleus forskohlii – Coleus, a member of the mint family, lowers blood pressure and improves heart function.

Hawthorne – The fruit and flowers of the hawthorne are used medicinally. They dilate coronary blood vessels, which helps lower blood pressure.

Mistletoe – It’s best known for the affection it creates during the holidays, but mistletoe is a popular herbal remedy, particularly for hypertension.

Rauwolfia – You only need a small dose of rauwolfia to treat high blood pressure.

Reishi mushroom – 150 to 300 mg of the mushroom, two or three times a day, can help lower blood pressure. You can also take a tincture of the mushroom extract, 30 – 60 drops, two to three times a day. Talk to your doctor before you take reishi, since it interacts negatively with other medications. It may also increase the risk of bleeding.

High Blood Pressure Resources

Aside from the cases where genetics bring on hypertension, high blood pressure is a very manageable and even preventable condition. The number one way to prevent high blood pressure is to eat right and get regular exercise. Controlling sodium intake and getting cardiovascular exercise most days of the week (20-30 minutes at a time) can help reduce blood pressure.

Stress control is imperative as well. Relaxation, meditation, or simple alone time are positive steps in the right direction.


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