High Blood Pressure, also medically known as ‘Hypertension’ is a growing health concern in India and is a risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases. It is sometimes referred to as “Silent Killer” as it is usually without symptoms. 

It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and recorded with two numbers: systolic (pressure during a heartbeat) over diastolic (pressure between heartbeats). A normal reading is typically around 120/80 mmHg. 

Prevalence:

Approximately 22.6% of Indian adults aged 15 and above have hypertension, with a higher rate in men compared to women. The prevalence increases with age. Urban areas report a higher prevalence compared to rural areas.

Types of Hypertension:

  • Primary Hypertension: This is the most common type. Usually develops due to aging and bad lifestyle choices.
  • Secondary Hypertension: This results from underlying conditions such as kidney disease, hormonal disorders, or the use of certain medications like birth control pills or steroids

Risk Factors:

Hypertension usually develops due to a combination of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Some of them are:

  • Unhealthy Diet: People who regularly take a diet rich in saturated fats, salt and unhealthy processed food or fast foods are at a higher risk to develop high blood pressure. Lack of vegetables and fruits in diet also contributes to this.
  • Lack of Physical Activity: A sedentary lifestyle and less physical activity can make your heart weak and increase pressure on arteries. Regular exercise helps to maintain blood pressure by improving heart health.
  • Chronic Stress: Prolonged stress can keep the cortisol levels high and the body remain in Fight-or-Flight mode. This can keep the heart rate and BP elevated. Also stress can make you eat mindlessly which can contribute to weight gain and high blood pressure.
  • Overweight: Excess body fat, especially around the abdomen (central obesity), puts strain on heart and blood vessels, causes insulin resistance and inflammation in the body leading to increase in blood pressure. 
  • Smoking and Alcohol: Smoking increases the heart rate and causes constriction of blood vessels and thus increasing the blood pressure. Alcohol on the other hand if chronically taken in higher quantities, can damage the heart and cause weight gain, which is a risk factor for high blood pressure.
  • Co-existing Health Conditions: Health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, and high cholesterol significantly increase the risk of developing hypertension. Diabetes and high cholesterol may cause blood vessels to harden, while kidney disease may cause fluid retention in the body, all raising blood pressure.
  • Age-related: Aging reduces elasticity of blood vessels which increases blood pressure. Also the presence of diabetes or high cholesterol may even further increase the risk. 
  • Family History: If you have a family history of high blood pressure then it puts you at a greater risk to develop it. 

Symptoms:

Hypertension usually is without any symptoms until significant damage has occurred. Sometimes people may experience headache (occipital), dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain or nosebleed if blood pressure is too high. 

Diagnosis:

Hypertension diagnosis is based on multiple readings taken on different occasions on the Sphygmomanometer (commonly called BP Machine). The person should be at rest while the readings are being taken. Other tests such as blood tests, urine tests, ECG, and imaging may be done to assess organ damage or identify secondary causes

Management:

  • Lifestyle Modifications: Healthy diet (low salt diet, rich in fruits and vegetables), regular exercise, avoiding smoking and alcohol, weight reduction and stress management are the first line of treatment for the management of high blood pressure. 
  • Medications: To be taken only under medical supervision. Medications are started if lifestyle modifications alone are not achieving the target blood pressure goals. Choice of medication depends on your age, severity and if any other comorbidities. Most commonly used medications include ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics. 

Prevention: 

Healthy Lifestyle plays a major role to prevent high blood pressure. Taking a low sodium diet, healthy balanced meals, regular physical activity, avoiding processed food, weight reduction, limiting smoking and alcohol intake and managing stress levels are ket points in the prevention of high blood pressure. 

Complications: 

Uncontrolled or untreated high blood pressure may lead to some serious health conditions like heart diseases (heart attack, heart failure, and left ventricular hypertrophy), stroke (due to clots or ruptures in brain vessels), kidney damage and damage to eyes. 

White Coat hypertension:

White coat hypertension is when your blood pressure goes up when you visit a hospital or clinic but stays normal elsewhere. This is due to the anxiety from seeing a stethoscope, hospital staff and the hospital environment. Though temporary, it can signal future hypertension, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.

Conclusion:

Hypertension is a serious medical condition and if left untreated can lead to life-threatening conditions. Early detection, regular monitoring, and healthy lifestyle choices—like a balanced diet, exercise, and stress control—are key to prevention and management. 

Disclaimer: This article is written by Practo for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.