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Hypertension, or known as high blood pressure, is often termed the “silent killer” because it typically has no symptoms until it has caused significant damage to the heart and arteries. In some cases, with very high blood pressures, symptoms might include headaches, dizziness, chest pain, palpitations, and nosebleeds. However, these are not specific and usually occur once the condition has reached a severe or life-threatening stage.

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SYMPTOMS OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION)

Perhaps, there is a common misconception that people with hypertension always experience symptoms, but the reality is that most hypertensive people have no symptoms at all. Sometimes, hypertension causes symptoms such as headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, palpitations of the heart and nose bleeds. And of course, it can be dangerous to ignore such symptoms, but neither can they be relied upon to signify hypertension.

In addition, hypertension is a serious warning sign that significant lifestyle changes are required. The condition can be a silent killer and it is important for everybody to know their blood pressure reading. The danger of ignoring high blood pressure increases the chances of life-threatening complications. This is because the higher the blood pressure, the higher the likelihood of harmful consequences to the heart and blood vessels in major organs such as the brain and kidneys.

Cardiovascular risk can also be high in people with mild hypertension in combination with other risk factors (e.g. tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, low socioeconomic status and family history of hypertension). Low socioeconomic status and poor access to health services and medications in conjunction to this matter subsequently increase the vulnerability of developing major cardiovascular events due to uncontrolled hypertension.

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WHAT CAUSES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION)?

Unfortunately, the exact causes of high blood pressure are not always clear. However, there are several factors that can trigger or increase its risks:

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I. BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTORS

• Consumption of food containing too much salt and fat, and not eating enough fruit and vegetables.

• Harmful levels of alcohol use.

• Physical inactivity and lack of exercise.

• Poor stress management.

– Besides, there are several metabolic factors that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and other complications of hypertension, including diabetes, high cholesterol and being overweight or obese. Subsequently, tobacco and hypertension interact can also further raise the likelihood of cardiovascular disease.

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II. SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS

Social determinants of health like income, education, housing have an adverse impact on behavioral risk factors, and in this way influence the development of hypertension. For example, unemployment or fear of being jobless may have an impact on stress levels that in turn influences high blood pressure. Living and working conditions, additionally, can delay timely detection and treatment due to lack of access to diagnostics as well as treatment and may also impede prevention of complications.

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III. OTHER FACTORS

In some cases, there is unknown specific cause for hypertension. Genetic factors may play a contributing role and when hypertension develops in people below the age of 40 years, it is important to exclude a secondary cause such as kidney disease, endocrine disease and malformations of blood vessels. Occasionally, when blood pressure is measured, it may be higher than it usually is. For some people, the anxiety of visiting a doctor may temporarily raise their blood pressure (white coat syndrome). Measuring blood pressure at home instead of using a machine to measure blood pressure several times a day or taking several measurements at the doctor’s office may help reveal if this is to be the case.