Hypertension – A Few Facts

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is much more common than you may imagine. It’s estimated that approximately 40% of adults in the UK and approximately a third of adults in America have hypertension.

Blood pressure is defined as the pressure which is exerted upon the walls of the arteries as blood passes through them. It is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is normally represented by two numbers.

Systolic pressure is the pressure which is measured whilst the heart beats and blood is being pumped around the body. This is usually the first number noted and is the greater of the two numbers.

Diastolic pressure is the pressure measured when the heart is at rest between beats. This is the second number and is the lower of the two numbers.

So when a doctor or nurse advises you that your blood pressure is “120 over 80”, or you see 120/80 mmHg written in your medical report, it means that your systolic pressure is 120 millimetres of mercury and your diastolic pressure is 80 millimetres of mercury.

High blood pressure is usually defined as having a sustained blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher – although this definition may vary in some countries.

Often there are no signs of high blood pressure and it may go undetected. It is frequently found during routine medical examination or as a consequence of testing due to some other ailment. It is a significant risk factor in the onset of cardiovascular disease – conditions which may impact upon the circulation of blood around the body, e.g. stroke, heart disease etc.

When you have hypertension, your heart needs to work harder to drive the blood around your body. Over time this additional strain can damage your heart. The extra pressure can also damage the walls of the arteries, which may result in a blockage or cause the artery to split – a haemorrhage. Either of these conditions could lead to a stroke.

There is no single identifiable cause for elevated blood pressure in 95% of cases. However, the available evidence shows that, in addition to age, lifestyle factors play a crucial role in determining your blood pressure. Excessive alcohol consumption, bad diet, lack of exercise, smoking and obesity are just some of the known risk factors.

Clearly medication exists which can help reduce your blood pressure – but, as with any medication there might be side effects and there will always be some unlucky patients who do not respond to drugs. Changes to your lifestyle, like eating a healthier diet, taking regular exercise, cutting your alcohol intake, quitting smoking and losing a little weight can be very effective in reducing your blood pressure.

Some people may also find meditation, self hypnosis and other relaxation exercises to be beneficial. In addition to these more traditional methods, recent clinical evidence shows that paced breathing, guided by electronically controlled cues triggered by bio feedback can quickly yield sustainable reductions in blood pressure levels. FDA approved devices such as resperate are now commercially available to hypertension sufferers and offer an effective drug free treatment.

In summary, hypertension is more common than you may think and, due to its lack of visible symptoms, you should have your blood pressure measured by a medical professional on a regular basis.

If you do discover that you have high blood pressure then you should be able to improve the situation by making some relatively easy lifestyle changes. Even if you are prescribed drugs then the lifestyle improvements will be effective and many will have other health benefits as well.