Why is hypertension so important? Hypertension is a prevalent health problem worldwide because, 20-30 % of the adult population has this disease. Hypertension incidences are significantly higher in black African population (40-45 % of adults). Usually, blood pressure rises with age up to seventies. This increase is more noticeable for systolic blood pressure and is more common in males. Most people (80-90 %) with hypertension have primary elevation of blood pressure known as essential hypertension. It is difficult to identify an exact cause for hypertension in these people.
Most individuals with mild high blood pressure are usually asymptomatic. Higher levels of blood pressure may be linked with nasal bleeding (epistaxis), headaches, dizziness, or increased passage of urine at night (nocturia). Some patients with hypertension may have attacks of sweating, palpitations, or shortness of breath. Severe hypertension may cause headaches, fits, visual disturbances, symptoms of heart failure, or transient loss of consciousness.
Long-term (chronic) untreated or poorly controlled hypertension results in chronic kidney disease (chronic renal failure), ischaemic heart disease, including heart attacks (myocardial infarction), heart failure, rhythm abnormalities of the heart (arrhythmias), dementia, retinopathy, stroke, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and erectile dysfunction.
High blood pressure is a crucial cause of premature (men aged under 55 years or women aged under 65 years) cardiovascular disease resulting in ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and peripheral vascular disease (PVD). The mortality and morbidity rates increase gradually with raising systolic and diastolic blood pressures; for example, isolated systolic hypertension elevates the risk of cardiac death two to three times. Stroke and ischaemic heart disease are the most common causes of death in people with hypertension. High blood pressure also raises the risk of getting a stroke six times.
Pregnant women, who are with pre-existing hypertension or pregnancy-induced hypertension, may have impaired blood flow to the foetus, resulting in intrauterine growth restriction. Hypertension is one of the most prevalent causes of maternal death. Severe hypertension during the pregnancy period results in a critical disease known as eclampsia. This condition may lead to fits, swelling (oedema) of brain and lungs, yellowish discolouration of body (jaundice), bleeding, and death of the foetus.
However, hypertension can be controlled with lifestyle modifications and/or anti-hypertensive medication. It helps eliminate or lower all adverse effects of hypertension.
Related Links:
High Blood Pressure
10 Tips To Control Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
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