About Hypertension

Harley05 asked:


I’m just wondering if a person can have lupus nephritis without ever developing hypertension?
I know that lupus itself does not necessarily to hypertension, but if you have kidney involvement, does that always cause hypertension, or can you have kidney involvement with developing high blood pressure?

Edith

Amjad Khan asked:


Hypertension is often known as a silent killer. Hypertension is the increase in blood pressure inside the arteries, caused due to high pressure exerted by the heart to pump the blood into the system. The higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and even, new research has found dementia. Hypertension contributes to heart attacks and strokes by damaging the inner walls of the arteries and by speeding up the inflammatory process. Hypertension is the number one risk factor for strokes.

Causes of hypertension: In 90 percent to 95 percent of high blood pressure cases, there is no identifiable cause. This type of high blood pressure, called essential hypertension or primary hypertension, tends to develop gradually over many years.

The other 5 percent to 10 percent of high blood pressure cases are caused by an underlying condition. This type of high blood pressure, called secondary hypertension, tends to appear suddenly and cause higher blood pressure than does primary hypertension. Various conditions can lead to secondary hypertension, including kidney abnormalities, tumors of the adrenal gland or certain congenital heart defects.

Certain medications — including birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs — also may cause secondary hypertension.

Alcohol intake, smoking and cocaine intake can cause hypertension through varied mechanisms.

In addition to the appropriate medications, with correct lifestyle interventions (the right diet, losing weight, regular exercise, stress management and yoga), one can get hypertension under control and significantly lower one’s risk of developing life-threatening diseases.

Tips to maintain healthy blood pressure:

* Maintain a healthy weight; if you are overweight, lose some. Being overweight increases your risk of high blood pressure by six to eight times.

* Be more physically active. Fit some light activity into your daily routine like taking a walk at lunchtime or dinner, using the stairs instead of the elevator etc.

* Choose foodstuffs lower in salt and sodium.

* Check food labels for information of sodium in the food. Look for products with “unsalted” or “sodium free” labels.

* Buy fresh poultry, fish and lean meat, and fresh, or canned with “no salt added”, vegetables.

* Cut back on frozen dinners, pizza, canned soups, broths and salad dressings, which are high in sodium.

* If you drink alcohol, do it in moderation (maximum 1-2drinks per day). If you have no more than 2 drinks a day, your risk of high blood pressure is low.

* Stop smoking.

* There is evidence that inclusion of few of the foods rich in calcium, potassium, omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium etc , may help prevent hypertension.

Holly

Goddess of Nuts PBUH asked:


I was diagnosed with borderline hypertension 3 years ago. Now, my BP has returned to completely normal levels. I never noticed any symptoms anyway. But it just seems weird to me that 2 years ago, it was nothing for me to do a reading and get 147/92 and now I can get 118/68 even if I am pissed off angry at everything and fresh inside from running outdoors. High blood pressure does run in my family, but I am in shape, 5′11 and 135 lbs. Plus, I eat a very healthy diet…I haven’t changed anything much in these 3 years. Why did I have it then as a 23 year old and it has slowly went away? What causes this to occur? My doctor offers no real explanation.

Jim

james sameul asked:


Blood pressure is the force with which blood pushes against the artery walls as it travels through the body. Like air in a balloon, blood fills arteries to a certain capacity—and just as too much air pressure can cause damage to a balloon, too much blood pressure can harm healthy arteries. Blood pressure is measured by two numbers—systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure measures cardiac output and refers to the pressure in the arterial system at its highest. Causes Of HypertensionHeredity. People whose parents or other close blood relatives have high blood pressure are more likely to develop it themselves.Increasing age. Blood pressure tends to increase with age, and occurs most often in people older than age 35. Men have a greater risk of high blood pressure than women until age 45. From age 45–54, the percentages of men and women are similar. After age 55, women are more likely to develop high blood pressure than men are.Essential hypertension affects approximately 75 million Americans, yet its basic causes or underlying defects are not always known. Nevertheless, certain associations have been recognized in people with essential hypertension. Symptoms Of HypertensionThe only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. This is especially important if you have a close relative who has high blood pressure.Often there are few symptoms and the individual himself is not aware of the condition until a doctor checks his pressure. In some cases there are palpitation of the heart, headache, dizziness, and fatigue, but there are many exceptions to these symptoms.  Thus, high blood pressure often is labeled “the silent killer.”People who have high blood pressure typically don’t know it until their blood pressure is measured.Treatment of HypertensionMost of the risk factors for primary hypertension are preventable, and lifestyle modification may prevent as well as treat the condition. Secondary hypertension can be managed by treating the underlying cause. Individuals in the high normal and stage 1 hypertension categories should attempt to lower blood pressure through diet and lifestyle changes before going on a regimen of medications. Recommendations include:All patients with blood pressure readings greater than 120/80 should be encouraged to make lifestyle modifications, such as eating a healthier diet, quitting smoking and getting more exercise. Treatment with medication is recommended to lower blood pressure to less than 140/90 mmHg. For patients who have diabetes or chronic kidney disease the recommended blood pressure is less than 130/80 mmHg.Changing your lifestyle can go a long way toward controlling high blood pressure. But sometimes lifestyle changes aren’t enough. In addition to diet and exercise, your doctor may recommend medication to lower your blood pressure. Supplemental Oxygen: This is used for patients with low oxygen level in the blood.Lung or Heart-Lung Transplantation — These procedures are employed for patients with severe pulmonary hypertension and extremely poor quality of life. It is the procedure of last resort.Use of oral contraceptives. Some women are prone to high blood pressure when taking “the pill.” Sedentary or inactive lifestyle. On the other hand, exercise reduces blood pressure or makes high blood pressure easier to manage.

Nathan

THE BEST asked:


MR M.A is a healthy 36-year old obese male.his BP was found of 178/114 mmhg. He is a heavy smoker and drinks 10 or more units of alchohol each evening. He has a sedentary occupation.
what anti hypertension agent coud be used in initial management of his hypertension?

Rosemary

Nick Johnson asked:


Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is caused by elevated blood pressure in the lungs. This disease results from a blockage of the flow of blood or oxygen through the lungs. Let’s review the Primary Pulmonary Hypertension symptoms and diagnosis.

The most common symptoms of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension include shortness of breath, hyperventilation, fatigue, weakness which progresses, fainting, dizziness, coughing up blood, and the development of blue tinge to your skin.

While Primary Pulmonary Hypertension may not reveal itself until it is well advanced, one of the main symptoms, however, is swollen ankles. These symptoms may occur over a period of time. If you have been diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, it is important that you be monitored for these symptoms by establishing routine visits to your cardiologist or PPH specialist. If any new symptoms occur, call your PPH specialist immediately.

Some people with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension mistake feeling tired with being out of shape. However, difficulty in breathing, dizziness, and even fainting spells are also typical early symptoms. Swelling in the ankles or legs, bluish lips and skin, and chest pain are among other symptoms of the disease. Some may also complain of a racing pulse, and many feel they have trouble getting enough air. Palpitations can also cause discomfort.

An examination by your PPH specialist may show distension of the veins in your neck, swelling of the legs or hands, and an enlarged liver. All of these conditions indicate that the right ventricle of your heart is working hard to pump blood into the lungs blood vessels. This may be a clear indication that you are suffering from Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.

In addition, you may want to note that your PPH specialist may not immediately diagnose PPH right away. If you have been on the drug Fen-Phen for weight loss, for example, the time frame from the time you took the drug to developing symptoms is roughly ten years.

Even in its later stages, however, the signs of the disease can often be confused with other conditions affecting the heart and lungs. Therefore, it is vital that you inform your PPH specialist that you were taking the drug Fen-Phen and the length of time as well. In this way, most of the conditions associated with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension can be excluded.

In an effort to determine the extent of the disease, your PPH specialist may wish to perform several tests. A cardiac catheterization is the way the doctor can make certain that the condition is due to Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and not attribute it to some other condition.

Additional tests may be performed, such as: an electrocardiogram, which will show enlargement of the right side of the heart; a chest X-ray may show enlargement of the size of the heart; an echocardiogram or ultrasound of the heart will be performed initially and can also be used to follow the progression of the disease. An echocardiogram can show enlargement of the right ventricle and can sometimes estimate the pressures of the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries; and, as mentioned above, a cardiac catheterization.

The one test by which a clear diagnosis of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension can be made by your PPH specialist is a cardiac catheterization. This will actually measure the pressures on the right side of the heart. Various drugs may be used during a cardiac catheterization to determine if the blood vessels in the lungs will relax in response to them. This may lower the pressures in the lungs and can help guide therapy.

Unfortunately, those who have Primary Pulmonary Hypertension do not seek medical advice by a PPH specialist until they can no longer go about their daily routine. The more severe the symptoms, the more advanced the disease. In these more advanced stages, the individual is only able to perform minimal activity and has symptoms even when resting. The disease may worsen to the point where the individual is completely bedridden.

It is vital, therefore, that if you suspect or have symptoms of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, and it has been confirmed by your PPH specialist, that you seek out a PPH attorney. It is your right to seek action against the drug company who produced the drug Fen-Phen, and to fully engage in a lawsuit in order to seek damages through claims facilitated by a qualified PPH attorney. You are entitled to receive compensation for medical treatments, punitive damages, and loss of earnings.

A PPH attorney, who specializes in pharmaceutical litigation in general, and Fen-Phen in particular, has no doubt seen a multitude of legal cases surrounding this drug by those seeking not only to protect their health and that of their loved ones. It is clear, therefore, that you should take advantage of the legal recourse that is available by contacting a PPH attorney.

Charles

sunset 626 asked:


I would like to find a diet supplement that wont interfere with the medication i take for hypertension.

Tara