Hypertension and Heart Disease: Is There a Connection?
High blood pressure or hypertension is on the rise among people of all age groups. According to the definition of the World Health Organization, hypertension is a condition where the pressure in the blood is above 140/90 mmHg or even more. It is the main reason for premature deaths worldwide.
Hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for heart stroke, failure, and other cardiovascular diseases. The condition also affects different parts of the body such as the kidneys, brain, eyes, and even genitals.
In this blog, a hypertension specialist discusses the relationship between high blood pressure and heart disease.
How are the two conditions related?
Due to hypertension, the heart muscles are weakened. As a result, the pumping pressure of the heart is reduced. To accommodate more blood, the heart muscle stretches which damages them as well as the artery walls. The damage leads to the formation of plaque in the arteries which reduces the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.
The reduced blood flow can cause the following:
- Chest pain
- Heart attack (a condition when the blood supply to the heart is blocked and the heart muscle dies due to the lack of oxygen).
- Heart failure (a disorder where the heart fails to pump blood to other organs of the body).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7 out of 10 people who experience a heart attack have high blood pressure as a medical underlying condition.
Diagnosis of hypertension
To diagnose high blood pressure, the hypertension specialist will check your pressure using a blood pressure cuff placed around the arm.
The pressure is grouped according to how high it is. Accordingly, it will be categorized as the following:
- Stage 1 hypertension: When the pressure is between 130-139mmHg/ 80-89mmHg.
- Stage 2 hypertension: When the pressure is between 140/90 mmHg or higher.
In older people, there is another type of high blood pressure where the bottom pressure level is normal but the top pressure level reading is higher.
Treatment Options
There is no cure for high blood pressure. However, treatment is recommended to manage the symptoms of the condition and prevent other complications.
If the pressure reading is not too high, lifestyle changes are required to control the symptoms. Your doctor will ask you to make the following changes in your routine.
- Eating a diet with less salt
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Be physically active
- Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption
If the above modifications in your lifestyle do not improve your condition, you will be prescribed medicines. One of the following medicines is given after a thorough examination.
- Diuretics
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
If you are taking any of the medicines prescribed, don’t change them without a doctor’s recommendation.
Wrapping up
High blood pressure does not have any symptoms. Some people do not even realize that they have this condition. Hence, it is important to monitor your pressure and keep it under control. A well-managed hypertension is a key factor for preventing heart disease.
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