HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION)

¿what is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of blood vessels. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), high blood pressure (HBP) means that the pressure in the arteries is greater than should. Another denomination of pressure high blood pressure is hypertension.

The higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk of damage to the heart and blood vessels of major organs such as the brain and kidneys. Hypertension is the most important preventable cause of cardiovascular diseases and stroke in the world.

If left unchecked, hypertension can cause a myocardial infarction, a widening of the heart and, in the long run, heart failure. Blood vessels can develop aneurysms and weak areas that make them more susceptible to clogging and breaking. Blood pressure can cause blood to leak into the brain and cause a stroke. Hypertension can also cause kidney failure, blindness and cognitive impairment.

The consequences of hypertension for health can be aggravated by other factors that increase the chances of suffering a myocardial infarction, a stroke or kidney failure. These include smoking, an unhealthy diet, the harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity and exposure to permanent stress, as well as obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes mellitus.

Most of the time, no cause of high blood pressure is identified. This is called essential hypertension.

Hypertension caused by another condition or by a medication you are taking is called secondary hypertension. This may be due to:

—Chronic kidney disease.
—Disorders of the adrenal glands (such as pheochromocytoma or Cushing's syndrome).
—Hyperparathyroidism.
—Pregnancy or preeclampsia.
—Medications such as birth control pills, diet pills, some cold medications, migraine medications, corticosteroids, some antipsychotics, and certain medications used to treat cancer.
—Narrowing of the artery that supplies blood to the kidney (stenosis of the renal artery).
—Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

You can take many steps to help control your blood pressure, such as:

—Eat a heart-healthy diet that includes potassium and fiber.
—Drink lots of water.
—Do at least 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise, at least 3 to 4 days a week.
—If you smoke, stop doing it.
—Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink to 1 drink a day for women and 2 for men or less.
—Reduce the amount of sodium (salt) you consume. Try to consume less than 1,500 mg per day.
—Reduce stress. Try to avoid factors that cause stress and try meditation or yoga to de-stress.
—Maintain a healthy body weight.

*images taken from the American Heart Association.