WHAT IS HYPERTENSION?

Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure, in this condition blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.

Blood pressure measures how much blood is passing through your blood vessels and the amount of resistance the blood meets while the heart is pumping.

Hypertension is quite a common condition.

Types of hypertension

• Primary hypertension is also called essential hypertension.

This type of hypertension develops gradually and no exact cause behind this but some triggering factors which cause primary hypertension.

• Secondary hypertension 

This type of hypertension is due to underlying causes in the body.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR HYPERTENSION?

Risk factors for essential and secondary high blood pressure include:

• Age- the risk factors of high blood pressure increase as a person becomes older because the blood vessels become less flexible.

• Family history- persons having a family history of hypertension are very prone to hypertension.

• Ethnic background- African-American people have a higher risk of developing hypertension than others.

• Obesity and being overweight- obese persons are more likely to develop high blood pressure.

• Sex- Hypertension is more common in adult male more than in females.

• Physical inactivity-lack of exercise and having a sedentary lifestyle raise the risk of hypertension.

• Alcohol intake- excessive intake of alcohol can also raise the risk of hypertension.

• Using tobacco- smoking, chewing tobacco, or any form of tobacco.

• Poor diet- a diet in which amount of fats and salts are leads to a high risk of hypertension.

• High cholesterol- a diet containing lots of unhealthy fat can cause cholesterol to build up in the arteries.

• Mental stress- stress has a severe impact on blood pressure, especially in chronic cases. It can occur as a result of both socioeconomic and psychosocial factors.

• Diabetes - People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing hypertension.

• Pregnancy- pregnant women have a higher risk of developing hypertension.

• Sleep apnea - this sleep disorder, which causes people to stop breathing while asleep, might also lead to hypertension.

• Certain chronic conditions- such as kidney disease, and diabetes.

• Certain defects- congenital defects in blood vessels

• Certain medications- such as birth control pills, cold remedies, over-the-counter pain reliever

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF HYPERTENSION?

• Heart attack 
• Aneurysm
• Heart failure
• Vision loss
• Kidney failure
• Brain stroke

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTENSION?

Most people with high blood pressure will not experience any symptoms. People often call hypertension a “silent killer” for this reason.

Whenever the blood pressure reaches about 180/120mm, which is a medical emergency. At this stage, symptoms will show such as:

• Headache 
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Blurred or double vision
• Dizziness
• Nosebleeds
• Heart palpitations
• breathlessness

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF HYPERTENSION?

The exact cause is unknown but there are many factors that increase the risk of hypertension. These factors cause narrowing of arteries and increase the risk of heart diseases.

DIAGNOSIS OF HYPERTENSION

Hypertension doesn't need any lab investigation it just requires only measuring blood pressure from a sphygmomanometer.

TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION

Treatment for hypertension is antihypertensive, diuretics,beta-blockers, alpha-blockers,calcium-channel, vasodilators, and angiotensin receptor blockers. But all these medicines have side effects and are also temporary. Thus homeopathy medicine is safe and effective.

MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION

• Reducing mental stress
• Medical management-monitoring of bp and maintaining normal blood pressure
• Diet management

HOMEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION

There are some medicines like rauwolfia, argentum nitricum, calcarea carb, glonoinum, natrum mur, phosphorus.

Homeopathy treatment is recommended because it not only can lower and stabilize blood pressure,it also has a positive effect on overall health.

But medicine depends on the presentation of the case and should never be taken without consulting a registered homeopath.

Do’s and don’ts

Do’s

• Eating more fruits,  vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein like fish
• Being physically active on a regular basis
• Maintain healthy weight
• Manage stress
• Find and treat the underlying cause

Don’ts

• Reducing salt intake
• Avoid the use of tobacco
• Stop taking alcohol
• Stop smoking
• Limit intake of foods high in saturated fats.
• Reduce intake of sweets
• Reduce trans fats in the diet