High Blood Pressure: Causes & Symptoms

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Table of Contents

Introduction
History of high blood pressure
Prevalence of hypertension in Saudi Arabia
Causes of high blood pressure
Symptoms of high blood pressure
Medical diagnosis of hypertension
Prevention of high blood pressure
Treatment of hypertension
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

High blood pressure is also referred to as hypertension (HTN), and it can be defined as a disease in which blood pressure in arteries goes up forcing the heart to perform higher in order to supply blood to blood vessels.

It can also be defined as a condition where blood in arteries exerts abnormally high pressure on arterial walls (Al-Nozha & Khalil, 2007, pp. 77-84). The blood pressure in the heart is measured by the quantity of blood the heart pumps and the strength of resistance in arteries. A patient is said to have chronic hypertension if the blood pressure has been consistently high for long.

It is vital for both practitioners and patients to have information about hypertension because such information can help in saving lives. This paper defines hypertension, explores the history of hypertension, discusses the prevalence of hypertension in Saudi Arabia, analyzes the symptoms and causes of hypertension, explores ways in which hypertension can be prevented and treated, and suggests ways in which hypertension can be medically diagnosed.

History of high blood pressure

High blood pressure can be traced in history to as far as 2600 BC. During this time, hypertension was known as heart pulse disease. Great scholars of the past advocated for a method of venesection and bleeding by leeches as a way of treatment. Progress was made in the 20^th century when it became possible to diagnose hypertension.

Medical sympathectomy operations were first conducted in 1923. The first effective oral drugs for hypertension were introduced in 1957. Conversion of enzyme inhibitors then followed in the 1980s. New drug inventions have reduced side effects, and improved affordability and accessibility of treatment for hypertension to most patients.

Prevalence of hypertension in Saudi Arabia

Studies show that in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), hypertension is steadily on the rise because of lifestyle changes. A report by a committee formed to investigate issues related to hypertension among the populace in KSA show an increased prevalence of high blood pressure in KSA among adults who live in urban as well as rural areas.

Causes of high blood pressure

Causes of high blood pressure can be classified as either primary or secondary. Primary causes are normally associated with structural changes in arteries, and the resultant condition is more prevalent in adults (A.D.A.M, 2012, pp. 1-5).

Among secondary causes are changes in hormones as well as diseases of the kidney. Secondary causes account for approximately 10 percent of adult high blood pressure cases. The rest of the percentage affects mostly children under the age of ten. Notably, many cases of hypertension can be linked to diseases of the kidney.

The kidney is the main body organ that stabilizes fluids. In case a patient suffers from kidney disease, the volume of blood in the body rises causing the pressure to increase. This makes the heart pump blood quickly leading to hypertension (O’Brien, Asmar, Beilin, Imai, & Mallion, 2003).

One of the most common kidney diseases that cause high blood pressure is polycystic. This condition is mostly hereditary and it develops through cysts. Secondly, diabetic nephropathy damages the kidney filtration system creating a high-pressure flow of blood. Additionally, hypertension can be caused by a swelling of filters in kidneys caused by a disease referred to as glomerular disease.

Hormonal disorders cause high blood pressure as glands produce less or too much hormones. For instance, the thyroid gland can produce small quantities of thyroid hormone that can lead to a disease called hypothyroidism, which makes the pressure of the blood to rise.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

High blood pressure manifests itself silently in the body. It worsens with age. If one is above the age of 18 years, normal high blood pressure tests should be carried out regularly. Testing is particularly vital for people who are at risk of developing hypertension. For instance, people with a family history of overweight issues, diabetes, and those in their late adulthood have a greater risk.

The most revealing symptom for hypertension is a diastolic pressure of more than 130mmHg. People who have a heart failure history or those with unmanaged hypertension are at more risk of having the aforementioned diastolic pressure. Other alarming symptoms for hypertension include blurred vision, nausea, difficulty in breathing, drowsiness, confusion and a constant headache.

Medical diagnosis of hypertension

The most common diagnosis is done through physical examination. The patient being examined should not smoke, take any caffeine, or exercise 30 minutes before the physical examination. Hypertension is detected through the use of an instrument known as a sphygmomanometer.

Physicians usually undertake an hypertension test by listening to the patients heartbeat using a stethoscope, and by reading units of mercury. The first pumping of the heart is recorded as systolic pressure and the last beat of the heart is recorded as diastolic pressure. If the practitioner notices that the patient may be having hypertension, he/she takes repeated tests separated by a span of around two minutes. If the measurement is still above normal, a similar test is conducted in both arms.

Other diagnostic tests carried out on a patient include ambulatory monitoring, home monitoring, and physical tests to check on any complications related to hypertension. Medical history obtained from family history, any active medical prescription, symptoms that show signs of secondary hypertension, and relevant emotional and environmental factors that affect high blood pressure are considered. Finally, laboratory and other necessary tests can be conducted.

Prevention of high blood pressure

High blood pressure can be prevented through a number of lifestyle changes. These include eating a well balanced diet, participating in various physical activities, maintenance of a standard weight, learning how to keep low levels of stress, limiting of alcohol intake, avoidance of tobacco smoking and adherence to prescriptions for medicines (Marks, 2013).

Understanding high blood pressure is important for both patients and healthy individuals. Hypertension is highly manageable. When a person leads a healthy lifestyle, the risk of developing high blood pressure is substantially reduced. For a patient, a healthy lifestyle can prevent the disease from increasing, thereby reducing the risk of getting a heart attack or heart diseases (Mancia, Fagard, & Narkiewicz, 2013).

Treatment of hypertension

After a hypertension diagnosis, a patient should ensure that he/she frequently consults the doctor in order to manage the condition properly. Lifestyle changes should be made and patients need to check on their blood pressure regularly at home (Williams, Poulter, Brown, & Davis, 2004). Medication also needs to be taken in the right manner.

For those who have mild cases of high blood pressure, it is not always certain when they can start taking medication. To help those who have pre-hypertension, certain institutes have set groups of patients who are diagnosed with the disease, depending on their risk of contracting heart diseases (Parati, Stergiou, & Asmar, 2010).

Conclusion

In conclusion, hypertension affects the heart causing enlargement of blood vessels. It dates back to historical times during which its definition was modified to its current version through various tests and clinical trials. Hypertension is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia due to urbanization.

Its causes are classified as either primary or secondary. Hypertension has no symptoms but it has several signs that are clinically diagnosable. Management of hypertension as well as its prevention can be achieved by proper dieting and being involved in physical exercises.

Reference List

A.D.A.M. (2012). High Blood Pressure. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/section/well

Al-Nozha, M. M., & Khalil, M. Z. (2007). Hypertension in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Medical Journal, 28(1): 77-84.

Mancia, G., Fagard, R., & Narkiewicz, K. (2013). 2013 ESH/ESC Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. Journal of Hypertension , 31(7): 1281-1358.

Marks, J. (2013). High blood pressure facts. Retrieved from https://www.onhealth.com/script/main/hp.asp

O’Brien, E., Asmar, R., Beilin, L., Imai, Y., & Mallion, J.-M. (2003). European Society of Hypertension recommendations for conventional, ambulatory and home blood pressure measurement. Journal of Hypertension , 31(4): 821-828.

Parati, G., Stergiou, G., & Asmar, R. (2010). European Society of Hypertension.

Practice Guidelines for home blood pressure monitoring. Journal of Human Hypertension , 24(12): 779-785.

Williams, B., Poulter, N., Brown, M., & Davis, M. (2004). Guidelines for management of hypertension: report of the fourth working party of the British Hypertension Society, 2004—BHS IV. Journal of Human Hypertension , 18 (3): 138-185.

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