Dakaz Medical Center

Medical Description

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is characterized by high blood pressure on the artery walls. In stressful situations or during physical exertion, it is normal blood pressure rises. In people with high blood pressure, tension remains high at all times, even at rest or in the absence of stress.

Hypertension is not a disease in itself. However, long term, it is an important risk factor:

* Heart failure: by imposing an additional workload on the heart, hypertension can cause depletion of the heart muscle;
* Of angina, myocardial infarction and stroke: high blood pressure means that the blood exerts greater pressure on the artery walls, making them fragile and increases the risk that the artery Hangs by atherosclerosis;
* Kidney problems (renal failure) and eyes (injury to the retina can lead to blindness): Again, due to the weakening of blood vessels.

Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of arteries when the heart beats and when at rest. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) using an inflated cuff placed around the arm.

It is said that high blood pressure (hypertension) when it is greater than 140/90 mm Hg (140 to 90) several times. People with high blood pressure are more likely to have coronary heart disease (leading to heart attacks) and strokes.

Symptoms

Hypertension is a silent disease. Most people who are infected have no symptoms. They may not know they have hypertension at least to measure their blood pressure. The causes of hypertension vary. Disorders such as diabetes or high cholesterol may contribute to hypertension.

Treatment

Treatment aims to prevent complications that can occur due to high blood pressure. Adopt healthy lifestyle habits is an effective means of controlling and preventing hypertension. If changes in lifestyle are not sufficient to control blood pressure, it may be necessary to also take medication for the lowering (antihypertensive).

There are many types of antihypertensive drugs. They lower blood pressure in different ways. Among the major classes of antihypertensives include:

* Diuretics. These drugs are urinating. They act at the kidneys rid the body of excess water and salt.
* Beta-blockers. These drugs block the effects of certain substances that slow the heartbeat and reduce their intensity.
* The ACE inhibitors enzyme (ACE) inhibit the formation of a hormone that normally cause contraction of blood vessels. They bring the vessels to dilate, which lowers blood pressure.
* Antagonists Angiotensin II helps to dilate blood vessels by blocking the action, not the formation of a natural substance that constricts blood vessels. The result is a widening of blood vessels and lower blood pressure.

Tags: Heart failure, hypertension, stressful situations, tension remains, types of antihypertensive