Know About Hypertension Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Also known as high blood pressure, Hypertension is a long term medical condition that occurs when the blood pressure in the arteries is continuously elevated. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood heart pumps as well as the amount of resistance to blood flow in the arteries.
Hypertension may lead to several health complications making the patient more prone to heart diseases. The illness develops over many years and affects everyone at some point in time. But what is fortunate is that it can be easily detected. And once you are aware of the fact that you have high blood pressure, then you can seek medical assistance and control this disease.
Hypertension Types -
Primarily, there are two types of hypertension: Essential and Secondary.
-
Essential Hypertension: In this type of hypertension, the causes of hypertension are unknown. 95% of people with high blood pressure suffer from this type of hypertension. Common symptoms include frequent headaches, dizziness, tiredness, or nose bleeds.
-
Secondary Hypertension: In this type of hypertension, the causes of the disease are known. The common causes are an abnormality in the arteries supplying blood to the kidneys, diseases and tumours of the adrenal glands, airway obstruction during sleep, hormone abnormalities, too much alcohol or salt in the diet and thyroid disease.
Hypertension Causes
A lot of factors increase the risk of Hypertension. Although the cause of the illness is often unknown, some major reasons which may cause Hypertension include-
Also, read Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Preventive Measures of Stroke.
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes arising due to nerve damage and kidney problems
- Cancer of adrenaline gland i.e. Pheochromocytoma
- Cushing syndrome
- An overactive thyroid gland
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Genetics
- Stress
Other factors may include a sedentary lifestyle, low potassium intake, and salt-rich and high-fat diet.
Hypertension Symptoms
Hypertension is referred to as a ‘silent killer.’ This also indicates that not always people notice the symptoms of high blood pressure. And until it is diagnosed, it may damage the blood vessels, heart, and other organs like kidneys, etc. But majorly, people experience no symptoms at all.
Some of the common symptoms of hypertension are listed below -
- Severe headache
- Vision
- Difficulty in breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Blood in the urine
- Pounding in chest, ears, or neck
- Chest pain
- Fatigue or confusion
Other than the symptoms mentioned above, patients affected with Hypertension may experience in sleep disorders, anxiety, and blushing as well.
But if the blood pressure turns into a Hypertensive crisis, then the patient may suffer from nose bleeds and headaches.
To avoid adverse conditions, it is vital to keep checking and trying to normalise your blood pressure.
Treatment of Hypertension
Treatment of Hypertension can take a multi-pronged approach. Lifestyle changes are considered as the first choice of treatment for Hypertension. Some other recommendations to treat the illness are mentioned below-
Things to Consider While Choosing Critical Illness Insurance
- Regular physical exercise
- Avoid getting stressed
- Eat a heart-healthy diet with less salt
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Limit the amount of alcohol intake
But sometimes, lifestyle changes are not enough. Apart from regular exercise and diet, the doctors may recommend treatment like calcium channel blockers, ACE Inhibitors, etc.
The treatment of your blood pressure depends on how healthy you are. Your BP should measure 130/80mm Hg if-
- You are a healthy adult who is aged 65 years or more
- You are healthy and aged less than 65 years with 10% or more risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the coming 10 years
- You are affected by diabetes, kidney disease, or coronary artery disease
Although the ideal blood pressure goal is considered 120/80 mm Hg or lower, it is not clear if treatment is required to reach that level or not.
Hypertension Diet -
You may be able to lower your blood pressure and reduce the risk of hypertension by adding this food item to your diet.
- Choose to eat more vegetables, fruits
- Go for low-fat dairy foods
- Avoid taking foods high in cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fats
- Add whole-grain foods, poultry, fish, and nuts to your diet
- You should also reduce the consumption of sweets, sodium, sugary drinks, and red meats.
Also Read
Health Insurance Companies See 40% Jump Sale of Policies During Coronavirus Lockdown
Benefits of Critical Health Insurance Plan for Stroke
Conclusion
Now you know how serious Hypertension is. So, if you are, or know anyone who is suffering from the illness, then refer to some good health insurance plans to them. A comprehensive critical illness plan can reduce your financial burden in tough times.
To know about health insurance plans in the market for Hypertension, you can talk to the customer care executives. Our toll-free number is 1800-1205-698.
