Hypertension

You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without a single symptom. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.

Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.

Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels.

Unless you have symptoms of extremely high blood pressure, there's probably no need to make a special trip to the doctor to have your blood pressure checked.

In 90 to 95 percent of high blood pressure cases in adults, there's no identifiable cause.

Secondary hypertension

The other 5 to 10 percent of high blood pressure cases are caused by an underlying condition called secondary hypertension. It tends to appear suddenly and causes higher blood pressure. Various conditions and medications can lead to secondary hypertension:

• Kidney abnormalities
• Tumors of the adrenal gland
• Certain congenital heart defects
• Certain medications, such as birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs
• Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines

Risk factors

High blood pressure has many risk factors.

Age

The risk of high blood pressure increases as you age. Through early middle age, high blood pressure is more common in men. Women are more likely to develop high blood pressure after menopause.

Race

High blood pressure is particularly common among blacks, often developing at an earlier age than it does in whites.

Family history

High blood pressure tends to run in families.

Risk factors for high blood pressure within your control.

• Being overweight
• Not being physically active
• Using tobacco
• Too much salt (sodium) in your diet
• Too little potassium in your diet
• Too little vitamin D in your diet
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Stress
• Certain chronic conditions

Sometimes pregnancy contributes to high blood pressure.

Although high blood pressure is most common in adults, children may be at risk, too. For some children, high blood pressure is caused by problems with the kidneys or heart.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to:

• Damage to your arteries
• Aneurysm
• Heart failure
• A blocked or ruptured blood vessel in your brain. Weakened and narrowed blood vessels in your kidneys
• Thickened, narrowed or torn blood vessels in the eyes (Metabolic syndrome). This syndrome is a combination of increased waist circumference, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high insulin levels
• disease or stroke
• Trouble with memory or understanding. Uncontrolled high blood pressure also may affect your ability to think, remember and learn

Normal blood pressure

Your blood pressure is normal if it's below 120/80 mm Hg

Stage 1 hypertension

Stage 1 hypertension is a systolic pressure ranging from 140 to 159 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 90 to 99 mm Hg.

Stage 2 hypertension

The most severe hypertension, stage 2 hypertension is a systolic pressure of 160 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic pressure of 100 mm Hg or higher.

Changing your lifestyle can go a long way toward controlling high blood pressure. Sometimes lifestyle changes are not enough and medication is required. Your provider can decide what is appropriate medicine.

Habit changes that will help control blood pressure

Eat healthy foods, decrease the salt in your diet, maintain a healthy weight' Increase physical activity, limit alcohol, don't smoke, manage stress- practice deep breathing and relaxation, keep track of blood pressure readings and consult your physician if consistently Elevated. Life style changes can be difficult to do, but the results can lead to a longer healthier life.

Reference: MayoClinic.com