High blood pressure (HBP), or hypertension, is when one's blood pressure is too high to sustain a healthy body. Some causes of HBP can be controlled like diet, smoking, exercise, weight and stress. Other causes you cannot control like gender, age and family history. And just because you don't feel sick or affected by HBP it is still a serious condition that leads to other conditions.
All forms of heart disease are directly related to hypertension. And without HBP, patients would likely have little chance of suffering from stroke where a blood vessel bursts in the brain, destroying tissue there and the thinking processes in the area of the stroke. Hypertension exacerbates other forms of medical conditions too.
Why is it so dangerous? As blood circulates it presses against the inside walls of the artery. Frequent HBP can damage the artery wall. The wall thickens and becomes rough which leads to a build up of plaque. Thickened artery walls mean blood flow is reduced and the heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. This buildup can also damage internal organs. Because of hypertension, the blood vessels in these organs have greater opportunity to burst and damage the organ's tissue, impairing the organ's ability to function. For example, kidneys and livers are especially susceptible to damage due to burst blood vessels from high blood pressure.
According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, about 25% of the population suffers from HBP. However, on closer examination certain groups are much more at risk. For example, Hispanic and White populations, on average, have relatively low HBP rates in the US at 20% and 23% respectively. Black Americans have an increased risk to nearly 40%.
And as you age HBP risk's change also. People between the ages of 45 and 54 have about a 31% chance of having HBP. For those aged 55 - 64, the rate of HBP jumps to 46% for men and 55% for women. Hypertension continues to increase for ages 65 - 74 with 59% of men affected and over 74% of women. At ages over 75 years, 69% of men and 82% of women can expect to suffer from HBP.
The most common form of control for HBP is drugs. And with such a large portion of the US population suffering from hypertension, the demand is always high for new and more effective hypertensive medications.
Currently, there are nine top blood pressure medicines on the market:
1) Diuretics like Lasix which flushes water and sodium from the blood to reduce the volume of liquid in the blood stream which reduces the amount of strain on the heart to move fluid around.
2) Beta Blockers which reduce nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels making the heart beat slower and with less force, thus reducing blood pressure and your heart's workload;
3) ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) Inhibitors prevents the formation of the enzyme, angiotensin II which causes blood vessels to narrow. ACE inhibitors relax the blood vessels reducing blood pressure.
4) Angiotensin Antagonists shield blood vessels from angiotensin II also widening blood vessels and reducing blood pressure.
5) Calcium Channel Blockers keep calcium from entering muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels which makes them relax, reducing blood pressure.
6) Alpha Blockers reduce nerve impulses to blood vessels which makes them relax and reduce blood pressure. Alpha Blockers are not recommended for first line defense against HBP.
7) Alpha-Beta Blockers is a combination of both alpha and beta blockers to widen blood vessels through the alpha blocker, and reduce heart rates from the beta blockers and gain benefit of both types of effects to reduce blood pressure.
8) Vasodilators directly open blood vessels by relaxing the muscles in the vessel walls which reduces blood pressure.
Despite the variety of drugs made to control HBP, more Americans are suffering from HBP or hypertension. But HBP is preventable to some degree which is cheaper and may forestall other serious complications of HBP. Focus on the risks you can control. Here are some tips in order to prevent high blood pressure:
- Limit your intake of food, salt and alcohol. Limiting those three things will do more to keep you healthy than any other single item.
- Secondly, exercise regularly. Walking is the best exercise and it takes as little as 30 minutes a day to see dramatic improvement to health.
- Stop smoking. Smoking has a proven link to HBP.
- And control your stress. Try such things as meditation and relaxation techniques.
The complications of HBP are well known, and as you age, according to statistics, you will more than likely have HBP. But you can work on the factors that you can control to lessen the likelihood. Examine your risk factors and do something to help yourself. The alternative is a medication with the associated side effects.
I have been a nurse for over 30 years. And as a baby boomer, I am concerned about the state of health care in the U.S. My son and daughters will be asked to change the system that will provide care for my care when I become Medicare eligible.
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