Hypertension Article for common public.

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is a condition in which the pressure required to by the heart to pump the blood into the system to reach whole body is more than 140 ("uppar ka reading")/90 ("niche ka reading")mmHg.

What are Causes of Hypertension ?

Hypertension may be primary which means it happens without any other associated organ diseases, most likely causes in this case are stress, high salt intake, over-weight, lack of exercise, smoking & tobacco chewing, genetic & hereditary causes.

Secondary hypertension means there is other organ which has disease and that causes high pressure, most common being kidney related diseases, blood vessels related diseases, and endocrine causes like thyroid diseases etc.

Disease of 1/3rd

Hypertension if termed as disease of one third, i.e. 1/3rd population suffers from Hypertension of which only 1/3rd population has been diagnosed as to having Hypertension of which only 1/3rd population is being adequately treated. 1/3rd of population of people having hypertension are already suffering from complications of hypertension.

The reason for this is

1. Largely symptom less nature of disease.
2. More no. of drugs & pills/ lack of compliance for medication.
3. Poor knowledge of hypertension.
4. Lack of awareness about complications.

Complications of Hypertension

Untreated & under-treated hypertension is notorious for increasing the risk of morbidity & mortality and is often described as a silent killer.

Untreated & under-treated hypertension can cause :-

• Cerebro-vascular disease- Stroke & Paralysis,
• Cardio-vascular disease- ischemic heart disease- Heart attack & Heart failure,
• Hypertensive nephropathy- Kidney failure & chronic kidney disease.
• Hypertensive retinopathy- Blindness
• other end organ damages.

Treatment for Hypertension

Hypertension is a lifelong disorder which requires commitment to life-style modifications & medical therapy lifelong.

Various life style measures include:

• Avoid cigarette smoking & tobacco chewing.
• Prevention and treatment of obesity.
• Regular exercise & physical activity & to avoid sedentary life style.
• Low salt & Low fat diet.
• DASH diet - which is rich in fruits & vegetables.
• Good dietary intake food rich in potassium, fibres.
• Limited alcohol consumption

Benefits of Anti-Hypertensive Therapy:

• Average 35-40% reduction in stroke/paralysis incidence
• Average 20-25% reduction in heart attack.
• Average >50% reduction in heart failure

Can we prevent hypertension?

No, hypertension cannot be prevented or cured, however with moderate lifestyle modifications and proper medications it can be kept under control.

People who are at hereditary risk for it can delay onset by early aggressive lifestyle modifications and regular health checkups. Also once diagnosed with it, we can largely prevent complications by the same measures along with regular medications and health checkups.

DR. HIREN S. GALA
M.B.B.S ; Dip. CARD;
MEMBER:- ASE, EACVI, ESC CONSULTANT-

Address:-
S L RAHEJA HOSPITAL,MAHIM.
ASHA PAREKH HOSPITAL, SANTA CRUZ.
ASIAN INSTITUTE ONCOLOGY, SION
MOB- +91-9819470769