Is High Blood Pressure Silently Harming You?

Why is it important to detect and manage high blood pressure at an early stage? Know all about high blood pressure and how it can risk your health.

Did you know that high blood pressure is also known as “the silent killer?”. It is called so as it can silently harm you because most individuals with high blood pressure do not experience any symptoms and therefore it can go undetected for years. The good news is that early detection and management of hypertension can reduce your risk of developing any further complications. Read further to get a better understanding of high blood pressure and its risks.

Contents:

What Is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure also known as hypertension, is a common condition where your blood pressure (the force exerted by the blood against the walls of your blood vessels) is consistently too high. Your blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood pumped by your heart and the resistance in the blood vessels of your heart. When the arteries of your heart become narrower (due to plaque formation, etc.), it becomes difficult for your heart to pump the same amount of blood, hence the rise in blood pressure.

Understanding Blood Pressure Readings and What They Mean

Your blood pressure reading consists of 2 numbers: 

Systolic vs Diastolic: Know the Difference

Systolic Blood PressureDiastolic Blood Pressure
The systolic blood pressure or the top number indicates the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats.The diastolic blood pressure or the bottom number indicates the pressure between the beats.

A normal blood pressure level is less than or equal to 120/80 mmHg, where 120 is the systolic blood pressure and 80 is the diastolic blood pressure.

Your blood pressure may vary throughout the day depending on your activities. When your blood pressure is constantly high over a period of time you will be diagnosed with high blood pressure or hypertension.

What Causes High Blood Pressure or Hypertension?

Depending on the cause of high blood pressure is divided into two: Primary hypertension and Secondary hypertension.

Primary Hypertension

Primary or essential hypertension develops over years. A combination of factors play role in its development:

Genetics: 

Those who have a family history of hypertension are at a higher risk of developing hypertension.

Age: 

Older adults (>60 years) are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure. 

Obesity: 

Being overweight or obese is one of the risk factors of hypertension. 

Certain health conditions: 

Chronic conditions such as diabetes or kidney disorders can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.

Lifestyle: 

Following a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy food habits, and habits such as smoking or consumption of alcohol can lead to high blood pressure.

Secondary Hypertension

Secondary hypertension occurs spontaneously and can be more severe compared to primary or essential hypertension. It is mostly caused by an underlying health condition or certain medications. The causes may include:

  • Kidney disorders
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Thyroid problems
  • Congenital heart defects
  • Adrenal gland tumors
  • Certain medications such as birth control pills, decongestants, and over-the-counter pain relievers. 

Medicines like amphetamines or cocaine

What are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?

Most individuals with hypertension do not experience any symptoms unless their blood pressure reaches very high levels. Some of these symptoms include:

  • Throbbing headache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Problems with vision or blood spots in the eye
  • Nose bleeds
  • Tiredness 
  • Palpitations
  • Facial flushing
  • Lightheadedness or dizziness

What Happens in Case of Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure?

Long-standing hypertension can cause damage to your blood vessels and organs. The higher your blood pressure and the longer it goes uncontrolled, the more will be the damage. Uncontrolled hypertension can cause facial flushing, dizziness, blood spots in the eyes, etc., and may lead to the following complications:

Heart Attack or Stroke

High blood pressure can eventually lead to hardening or thickening of the blood vessels due to the build-up of fat, cholesterol, or other substances in your artery walls. This causes narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) leading to a heart attack or stroke.

Aneurysms

Uncontrolled hypertension can cause the arteries to bulge forming a weak spot in the artery (aneurysm) that may burst if the pressure rises. An aneurysm may progressively increase in size. Rupture of an aneurysm can be life-threatening. 

Heart Failure

Your heart has to work harder to pump blood against the resistance in your blood vessels. This can lead to thickening of the walls of the heart chambers eventually leading to heart failure.

Kidney Disease

High blood pressure can cause narrowing of the blood vessels of the kidney which leads to decreased blood flow through them. This eventually results in damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys affecting their normal function.

Vision Problems

Uncontrolled hypertension can cause damage to the small blood vessels in the eye causing problems with vision. It can lead to blurred vision or in some cases it might also cause loss of vision.

Metabolic Syndrome

High blood pressure can cause Metabolic Syndrome in some individuals. Metabolic Syndrome is   a group of conditions that occur together and has the propensity to increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. These conditions include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, increased weight gain, especially around the waist, and abnormal lipid levels (cholesterol and triglyceride levels).

Memory Loss

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can affect your ability to think and remember. It can affect your memory and cause difficulty in understanding concepts.

Dementia

High blood pressure can lead to the development of dementia in some individuals. It is a condition that causes memory loss and loss of cognitive function. It occurs due to the damage of the blood vessels that supply your brain.

Detecting and managing high blood pressure early can help in preventing these complications.

How to Control High Blood Pressure?

Leading a healthy lifestyle is a strong shield against hypertension and its damaging effects. Taking these small steps can help prevent high blood pressure and keep it under control.

  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Be more active
  • Limit your sodium intake
  • Have a healthy diet
  • Manage stress
  • Quit smoking 
  • Cut back on alcohol

When To See A Doctor

As high blood pressure generally does not show any symptoms, it is necessary that individuals who are at a higher risk should undergo periodic screenings.

Annual screenings are recommended for:

  • Individuals who are above the age of 40.
  • Those who are at a higher risk of developing hypertension.

Adults aged between 18 to 39 years, with a healthy blood pressure and who do not fall into the high-risk category can undergo screenings once every 2 to 3 years.

Those who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure will require regular monitoring of their blood pressure and frequent consultations with their doctor as recommended.

Don’t Have Time To Read?

  • High blood pressure or hypertension is a common condition where your blood pressure or the force exerted by the blood against the walls of your blood vessels is consistently too high.
  • A normal blood pressure level is less than or equal to 120/80 mm/Hg, where 120 is the systolic blood pressure and 80 is the diastolic blood pressure. 
  • Depending on the cause hypertension is of two types, Primary and Secondary hypertension.
  • Most individuals with hypertension do not experience any symptoms unless the blood pressure reaches high levels.
  • Common symptoms of hypertension include headaches, changes in vision, palpitations, shortness of breath, nose bleeds, facial flushing, etc. 
  • Uncontrolled hypertension can cause damage to the blood vessels and affect the functioning of various organs such as the heart and the kidneys.
  • Leading a healthy lifestyle is a strong shield against hypertension and its damaging effects.
  • Use the Phable Care App to consult India’s leading cardiologists, order medicines, book lab tests, integrate BP monitors and other devices to get real-time remote care from the comfort of your home. Also, check out our Hypertension Management Program which provides ‎360º care. Let’s treat low/high blood pressure problems together.

Friendly Asked Questions

What blood pressure level is too high?

Your blood pressure levels are considered too high when the systolic blood pressure is 140 mm Hg or higher and the diastolic blood pressure is 90 mm Hg or higher.

What are the 5 common symptoms of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure usually does not show any symptoms unless it reaches high levels. Some of the symptoms that you may experience include, headache, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, vision problems, and fatigue.

What is the main cause of high blood pressure?

One of the main causes of high blood pressure is an unhealthy lifestyle. Leading a sedentary lifestyle, following an unhealthy diet and harmful habits such as smoking or consumption of alcohol can all contribute to the development of high blood pressure. 

Does anxiety cause high blood pressure?

Anxiety can lead to a temporary hike in your blood pressure. However, it does not lead to long-term hypertension.

Does walking decrease blood pressure?

Any moderate physical activity such as walking can help decrease your blood pressure by improving your blood flow. Try to include 30 minutes of brisk walking in your daily routine.

Can lack of sleep cause high blood pressure?

Not getting enough sleep can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure. Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep regularly can benefit your overall health.

How can I quickly lower my blood pressure?

Lying down and taking deep breaths can help in lowering your blood pressure within a few minutes. However, this change would be temporary.