High blood pressure or Hypertension is known as a ‘silent killer’, as it displays no symptoms. It is a disease that can affect the vital parts of your body such as the brain, heart, kidneys, etc. leading to stroke, heart disease and kidney failure.
Types of hypertension - Primary or essential hypertension: Develops gradually over many years and has no identifiable cause.
- Secondary hypertension: This type of Hypertension has an underlying cause such as kidney abnormalities, heart defects present at birth, tumors etc.
Click here to view an animation on high blood pressure against the arteries | | | | | Hypertension in women
Women taking birth control pills are prone to developing high blood pressure. Pregnancy can also induce hypertension, especially in the last 3 months of pregnancy and if left unchecked can be harmful for both mother and baby. Increased body weight and Menopause is also associated with high blood pressure.
Other risk factors of Hypertension - Lack of exercise or physical activity,
- increased salt intake,
- family history,
- too little potassium,
- alcohol,
- smoking,
- stress and
- age.
| | Complications of high blood pressure
High blood pressure can damage your vital organs and can lead to several complications (see Box). The longer you leave your Hypertension unchecked, the more damage it will cause.
| | Complications of hypertension | | Blood vessel damage | | Heart failure | | Stroke | | Kidney disease | | Eye damage |
| Treatment
There is no cure yet for Hypertension. But it can be controlled. Treating high blood pressure can help prevent serious complications. Lifestyle changes can help you control high blood pressure.
But sometimes lifestyle changes alone may not be enough. In addition to diet and exercise, your doctor may propose medications to lower your blood pressure.
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| Tips to handle hypertension - Follow a healthy and balanced diet.
- Maintain healthy body weight.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Do not smoke.
- Manage stress.
- Check blood pressure even at home.
- Maintain regular doctor visits.
| | | A final word of caution… Hypertension has no cure, but it can be controlled with proper diet, lifestyle changes and if necessary, medications. Get regular health check ups. Think about the consequences of untreated high blood pressure. Do not take chances with a disease that you can control—it is all in your hands. And remember, Hypertension is a silent disease, but its silence is not golden.s |
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