Understanding Blood Pressure And Hypertension Part 2: Symptoms, Causes, and Risks

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a serious condition that can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. But with proper treatment and lifestyle changes, you can control your blood pressure and protect your health.

Hypertension is a serious medical condition that occurs when your blood pressure is consistently elevated. Blood pressure measures the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries, and if you have hypertension, this means that your blood is exerting too much pressure on those vessels.

Remember, normal blood pressure is below 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) which we discussed in part 1 of our series. Let’s know to take a look at the symptoms of high blood pressure, as well as the causes and risks associated with this condition.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

Although many people with hypertension don’t experience any symptoms, there are some common signs and symptoms associated with high blood pressure, including:

– Headaches

– Dizziness

– Nausea

– Shortness of breath

– Chest pain

– Palpitations

In most cases, these symptoms do not occur immediately but rather over time as your blood pressure continues to rise. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms on a regular basis or notice that they are getting worse, it is important to talk to your doctor right away.

Causes of High Blood Pressure

There are a variety of factors that can contribute to high blood pressure, including:

– Family history: If you have a family member with hypertension, you’re more likely to develop it yourself.

– Age: Blood pressure typically begins to rise as you get older.

– Obesity: Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of hypertension.

– Sedentary lifestyle: A sedentary lifestyle (i.e., not getting enough exercise) can also contribute to high blood pressure.

– Stress: Chronic stress can lead to an increase in blood pressure.

– Smoking: Smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products can damage your blood vessels and lead to hypertension.

– Alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol can also cause an increase in blood pressure.

People over the age of 65 are at a higher risk for developing hypertension due to changes in the arteries and heart muscles as they age. Additionally, being overweight or obese is one of the biggest risk factors for hypertension, as carrying excess body fat puts a strain on your heart and blood vessels. If you can identify with any or several of these contributors, talk to your doctor about your concerns and develop a plan with them to reduce your risk factors.

Risks of Having High Blood Pressure

One of the biggest risks associated with untreated high blood pressure is that it can lead to serious health problems. Over time, hypertension can damage your arteries and lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and other conditions.

Heart Disease:

High blood pressure can damage the heart muscle and lead to heart failure. It can also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as damage to blood vessels.

Stroke:

Blood clots are more likely to form in arteries that have been damaged by high blood pressure, increasing the risk of a potentially deadly stroke.

Other Health Problems:

High blood pressure can affect many different organs throughout the body, including the kidneys, brain, and eyes. left untreated, hypertension can lead to kidney damage, memory problems, and blindness.

If you think you may have hypertension, it’s important to see your doctor so they can diagnose and treat the condition.

Choosing to Care

Because people over the age of 65 are more at risk of having hypertension, Centric Home Health and Hospice understands that Home Health care is more a specific disease or condition. Centric Home Health is all about caring for the patient as a whole including the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of a patient’s health journey. While hypertension may not have caused the medical condition for which you are receiving home health care, it can be a contributing factor to it or another condition you may be experiencing. We at Centric Home Health and Hospice understand this which is why our mission is to help you reach your total health goals. When you choose Centric Home Health and Hospice, you are choosing people that care for the whole patient.

Are you currently working as a nurse where this has been forgotten? Apply today for a change of scenery, where our core values are centered around doing what’s best for our patients.