Hypertension

1. HYPERTENSION
• Hypertension or high blood pressure is one of the most common worldwide
disease among humans
• It is also the major risk factors for coronary heart disease, stroke and many other
diseases

2. HOW IT HAPPEN
• As blood flow inside the arteries, it pushes a pressure against the arteries wall
• The higher the pressure of the blood exerted on the arteries wall, higher will be
the blood pressure
• Size of the artery can also affect the blood pressure. Narrow the artery, higher
will be the blood pressure

3. SYMPTOMS
• Hypertension is called a “silent killer” as it does not have any
symptoms until it quietly damage patients heart, blood vessel, brain,
lungs and kidney
• But, patients can control it by knowing its zones

4. NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE: SAFE ZONE
• Normal blood pressure readings may fall below 120/80 mmHG
• Higher than this level can indicate hypertension

5. PREHYPERTENSION: WARNING ZONE
• At this zone, the blood pressure remain consistently just above normal blood
pressure
• Patient at this level have twice the risk of developing heart disease than the
patient with lower blood pressure
• A change in lifestyle are recommended for them to lower down gthe blood
pressure

6. HYPERTENSION: DANGER ZONE
• The blood pressure reading are at 140/90 mmHG or higher
• Still no symptoms occur at this level until the pressure reading are at 180/110 or
higher, patient may have hypertensive crisis
• Hypertensive crisis symptoms are :
• Severe headache
• Shortness of breath
• Nose bleeding
• Severe anxiety

7. CAUSES
• There are several causes that contributes to hypertension
• High salt diet
• Person with diets high in salt experience more risk of hypertension than those who take low salt diet
• Alcohol consumption
• Taking too much alcohol drinks may lead to high blood pressure
• It is good not to take any alcohol drinks in a diet
• Obesity
• Person with too much body weight have a risk to hypertension
• Stress
• Too much stress can contribute to hypertension
• A good handling of stress is needed to prevent it from getting worst
• Caffeine
• Consumption of caffeine can raise the blood pressure

8. HOW TO MEASURE HYPERTENSION
• Blood pressure is the amount of force that is exerted at the wall of blood vessels
as blood passes through it
• To measure this force, special devices are needed. This device is called
sphygnomanometer
• The blood pressure measurement are written as fraction. For example, normal
blood pressure is recorded as 120/80. The number on top is called systolic
pressure; the pressure inside blood vessel at the moment of heart beats. The
number at the bottom indicates the diastolic pressure; the pressure inside blood
vessel when heart is at rest

9. TREATMENT
• Lifestyle change is the first recommended thing to treat hypertension. Losing
weight, exercising, avoiding alcohol and cutting back on the salt diet can help
lower the blood pressure
• But, for some individuals lifestyle changes may not be enough. They require some
hypertension medications

10. PREVENTION
• Reduce salt intake
• Reduce fat intake
• Lose weight (if overweight)
• Exercise regularly
• Quit/avoid smoking
• Avoid alcoholic drink
• Manage stress
• Always check the blood pressure