What is high blood pressure?

Hypertension or elevated blood pressure is a severe medical condition that relatively intensifies the chances of developing disorders related to heart, brain, kidney, and other vital body organs. According to an estimate, 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 years worldwide have hypertension making it one of the significant reasons for untimely deaths worldwide. Unfortunately, several people do not take high blood pressure seriously and ignores it causes as well as symptoms for long. In this article, we will understand what is blood pressure, the types, causes and symptoms of high blood pressure.

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the pressure applied by the blood flowing in the vessels against the walls of the vessels. Whenever our hearts beat, blood is pumped into the arteries which create a pressure on the walls of the vessels it is flowing in, known as blood pressure. Based on the rate of blood pressure, it occurs in two types.

Two types of blood pressure are

1.    Systolic Pressure: It is the force by the blood on your artery walls when the heart beats while pumping the blood. At this time, the pressure is the highest.
2.    Diastolic Pressure: It is the force against your arteries between beats when your heart is resting. At this time, the blood pressure falls.

Expressing the blood pressure in numbers:

The blood pressure reading consists of two numbers. The first number represents the systolic pressure and the other represents diastolic pressure. For example, in 120/80, systolic is 120, and diastolic is 80.

Signs and symptoms of high blood pressure

Hypertension is often a 'silent killer' as it does not show significant symptoms. It is a sign of a hypertensive emergency if someone's blood pressure reaches about 180/120 mm Hg. People with high blood pressure may experience the following symptoms:

●    headache
●    nausea
●    vomiting
●    dizziness
●    blurred or double vision
●    nosebleeds
●    heart palpitations
●    breathlessness

The symptoms may vary from person to person. A person belonging to age group, who experiences these symptoms frequently, should consult a doctor.  

High BP Symptoms in males and females:

As males and females have different hormonal compositions, the symptoms of high blood pressure in them also differ. A female experiences several hormonal imbalances during her life, increasing the risk of having high blood pressure. The factors that may raise these chances are pregnancy, menopause, and use of birth control pills. High blood pressure can indicate preeclampsia (a condition during pregnancy with a sudden rise in blood pressure). It is a likely dangerous condition affecting both the mother and her developing fetus as it may lead to clotting issues that may affect organs, such as the liver and kidneys. A few symptoms of this condition are:

●    headache
●    vision changes
●    abdominal pains
●    swelling due to edema (swelling due to accumulation of too much fluid in the tissues of the body)

When the woman crosses the age of 45, menopause may start. It is not proven that menopause is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. During menopause, females are highly prone to have hypertension. According to the records, males are more likely to suffer high blood pressure before middle age than females. Some symptoms are:

●    confusion
●    Vision problems
●    Chest pain
●    Difficulty breathing
●    Irregular heartbeat
●    Blood in the urine
●    Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears

High blood pressure symptoms among teens and young adults in early 20s-

Teenagers are most likely to get high blood pressure because of obesity or some other underlying medical condition. Some of the medical factors which lead to higher chances of high blood pressure among teenagers are type-2 diabetes, kidney issues, endocrine disorders, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, or any other disease. The symptoms of high blood pressure in people in their early 20s or teenagers are more or less similar to the others. However, according to a 2021 study, it has been seen that the rate of cardiovascular problems in older people due to high blood pressure has been reduced. Still, there are lower rates of awareness, treatment, and management of high blood pressure in 20–39. Due to this, cardiovascular problems are more likely to occur in them in their late life.

Symptoms in babies and children

High blood pressure can also be seen in children and babies. The main reason for the same can be having a unhealthy diet which could lead to obesity and diabetes, and some other problems. Children with these problems are more likely to have high blood pressure issues. High blood pressure among children is not same as adults, but it can cause:

●    A headache
●    Fatigue
●    Cognitive changes or changes in mental status
●    Vomiting

Newborns can also be diagnosed with high blood pressure because of some underlying health complications like kidney or heart disease by birth or if they develop them at a very young age. Some of the symptoms of high blood pressure in babies that can be seen are-

●    seizures
●    irritability
●    lethargy
●    feeding problems
●    rapid breathing
●    Apnea

Causes of high blood pressure

According to a study, only 1 in 5 people notice the proper symptoms of high blood pressure and do know the cause of the same. High blood pressure comes alongside some other medical issues. However, a person with other medical problems doesn't have to have hypertension; if you take complete care of yourself, you may reduce the risk of having high blood pressure in any adjoining medical problem.

Health ailments that can lead to high blood pressure are as follows:

●    Kidney disease
●    Diabetes
●    obstructive sleep apnoea
●    glomerulonephritis
●    hormone problems
●    hyperaldosteronism and Pheochromocytoma

These are some primary health conditions that, in turn, may causes high blood pressure.  Some other causes that may cause high blood pressure are overeating salt, not eating a healthy diet, not exercising, drinking too much alcohol or smoking, taking unnecessary or too many medications like the contraceptive pill, steroids, or some recreational drugs such as cocaine. In such a case, you can control your blood pressure level if you take proper care, like preventing yourself from eating or taking any such unnecessary medicine or drug. Adding seasonal fruits and vegetables, including appropriate exercise in your diet, help keep your blood pressure level under control. Neglected and untreated high blood pressure could lead to further health issues, so it is necessary to monitor blood pressure on regular basis.


Note: The article is meant for general awareness of the readers. The information can't be used as a substitute to professional consultation and recommendation. In case you experience any of the above symptoms, kindly consult a doctor.


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