Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of arteries, which transport blood from the heart to various organs and tissues in the body. Our blood pressure goes up and down throughout the day and is measured by two numbers; systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The former indicates the pressure in the arteries during heartbeats and the latter represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.

What is high blood pressure or hypertension?
When the blood pressure is more than normal, it is called hypertension or high blood pressure. One may have hypertension when the blood pressure diagnosis is above the usual level. The reading of 120 systolic and 80 diastolic is considered normal blood pressure and is expressed as “120 over 80” or written as “120/80 mm Hg.”

Symptoms
Typically, high blood pressure does not cause any symptoms, which is why most healthcare professionals call it the silent killer. Studies suggest that 46% of adults with high blood pressure do not know they have it. However, people with a blood pressure of 180/120 mm Hg or more may experience symptoms like nosebleeds, heart palpitations, or headaches. It is a hypertensive crisis and needs immediate medical attention.

Causes and types
Typically, two things determine blood pressure – how difficult it is for the blood to pass through the arteries and the amount of blood the heart pumps. The blood pressure is higher when the arteries are narrow as the heart pumps more blood. Hypertension can be classified as:

Essential or primary hypertension – This type of high blood pressure has no identifiable cause and gradually develops over the years. Plaque build-up in the arteries is one of the causes and risk factors for primary hypertension.

Secondary hypertension – One may have this type of hypertension because of an underlying condition. Secondary hypertension is sudden and causes higher blood pressure than primary hypertension. Some conditions that may cause secondary hypertension are:

• Tumors in the adrenal glands
• Congenital heart defects, which are blood vessel abnormalities present from birth
• Cough and cold remedies, certain prescribed treatment options
• Impaired kidney function or kidney disease
• Obstructive sleep apnea (a condition characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep)
• Disorders affecting the thyroid gland

Moreover, in some people, getting a health checkup can increase the blood pressure, which is known as white-coat hypertension.

Risk factors
Here are some risk factors that can also aggravate one’s risk of developing hypertension.

• Age – The risk for hypertension increases with age.
• Genetics – If one’s first-degree relative has hypertension, their susceptibility to developing it is higher.
• Lack of physical activity – Inactive lifestyle may lead to hypertension.
• Eating too much salt – Excessive sodium or salt in the body can also make the body retain fluid, which spikes blood pressure.
• Low potassium levels – Potassium helps maintain salt in the cells of the body. A proper potassium balance is vital for good heart health.
• Stress – High levels of stress can also cause a temporary rise in blood pressure.
• Some chronic conditions – Diabetes, kidney diseases, and sleep apnea are a few conditions that may cause high blood pressure.
• Pregnancy – Pregnancy generally causes high blood pressure.

Diagnosis
A blood pressure examination is a part of the routine doctor visits and annual health checkups. Healthcare professionals diagnose blood pressure by measuring it with an arm cuff. When there are high blood pressure readings at two or more appointments, the doctor will diagnose hypertension. Further, they will discuss one’s lifestyle habits and medical history to understand the possible causes.

Treatment options
Several factors can help doctors devise the besttreatment options. These factors are based on the causes identified and the type of hypertension.

• Treatment options for primary hypertension
  Lifestyle changes can help lower the high blood pressure induced by primary hypertension. However, the doctor may recommend a prescription treatment if lifestyle changes are not enough.
• Treatment options for secondary hypertension
  When the doctor discovers an underlying issue that causes hypertension, the treatment plan will focus on rectifying that condition. However, despite the treatment for that particular underlying cause, hypertension is persistent in some people. So, the doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and prescribe treatment options to lower blood pressure. Further, the treatment options may be altered, as what works now might not always work over time. So, in case of this type of hypertension, the healthcare professional will refine one’s treatment plans as and when required.