Hypertension
It is regarded normally as a silent killer. Early diagnosis and good cure averts death. Hypertension is an increase in the pressure with which blood flow through the veins and arteries. This increase in pressure is as a result of the force generated by the contraction of the cardiac muscles. Increased pressure could be as a result of fatty deposits on the walls of the capillaries, reducing space for blood flow.
Blood Pressure (BP) differ with age, racial background and profession. For children under 12 years, the normal BP is 120/80 mmHg; adults: less than 40 years, 130/85 mmHg; less than 50 years, 140/90 mmHg and above 60 years, 160/90 mmHg (systolic BP is the figure above and it is the pressure conferred on the blood during the contraction of the cardiac muscles and the capillaries. The figure below is the diastolic BP and it is the pressure on the blood when the cardiac muscles and capillaries relax).
Generally, blacks have a lower BP than whites. Athletes have far more lower BP than non-athletes. The normal BP for athletes is 90/60 mmHg.
Types
There are basically two types viz: Primary or Essential Hypertension and Secondary Hypertension.
Primary hypertension accounts for about 90% of hypertensive cases. It has no discernable cause, its origin is unknown and it’s familial most of the times.
Risk Factors or Primary Hypertension
1. Heredity
2. Race: Blacks are more susceptible to hypertension.
3. Age: Women past the age of menopause are more prone to hypertension because they no longer secrete oestrogen. Men of older age are faced with societal and economic pressure which risk them to hypertension.
4. Sex: Males are more exposed to hypertension because they do not secrete oestrogen.
5. Obessity.
6. Lifestyle: Too much alcohol intake, smoking, high salt intake. cholesterol and triglyceride diet intake.
Secondary hypertension has medical background as it is as a result of an underlined medicalcondition or consequence of a specific disease leading to sodium ion retention and subsequent potassium ion excretion.
Risk Factors of Secondary Hypertension
1. Kidney dysfunction
2. Endocrine diseases
3. Diabetes
4.Narrowing of the aorta (coarctation)
5. Uterine fibroid
6. Use of oral contraceptives, anabolic steroids and alcohol.
Signs and Symptoms of Hypertension
The most common sign is an increase in the normal BP except in complications. There are no symptoms but patients could report or be diagnosed of oedeme, cough, easy fatigue, blurred vision, repeated cough when lying on the back, tingling sensation at the tips of the fingers and toes (because the nerve endings are supplied with less blood).
Diagnoses
The diagnosis is performed as a routine investigations carried out on all patients viz:
1. Haematocrit
2. Electrolyte, Urea, Creatinine
3. Blood sugar level
4. Cholesterol level
5. Uric acid level
6. Urine analysis
7. Chest x-ray.
Treatment
The aim of treatment is to reduce risk and increase chances of survival. The summary of treatment is D – E – E – D.
*Drug: Treatment of primary hypertension with drugs consists the use of anti-hypertensive drugs and it is a life long procedure. For secondary hypertension, the treatment of the underlying medical cause is the basic drug treatment.
*Exercise: Regular exercise has been proven to improve body fitness and reduce BP. However, treatment by exercise should not wholly replace anti-hypertensive drug treatment.
*Education: Reading more about hypertension expands one’s knowledge about the disease and how to handle it.
*Diet: Reducing alcohol consumption and correcting obessity are good treatment measures. Avoid foods
– with high salt content
– with high cholesterol and triglyceride content
– with very high sodium content.
Consumption of diets high in proteins and vitamins is encouraged.
