Contents:
- Medical Video: High Blood Pressure | Hypertension | Nucleus Health
- What is actually measured when checking blood pressure?
- What is isolated systolic hypertension?
- How to overcome this if you already have hypertension?
Medical Video: High Blood Pressure | Hypertension | Nucleus Health
Even though your blood pressure has always been normal, it doesn't mean you can be complacent. As you get older, the chances of you experiencing hypertension or high blood pressure will increase. Even though at the age of 55 years your blood pressure is still normal, but the chances of you having hypertension are 90%. Therefore, the more you age, the better if you control your blood pressure more often. Moreover, there is one type of hypertension that is often found in most elderly people, namely isolated systolic hypertension or in Indonesian known as isolated systolic hypertension.
What is actually measured when checking blood pressure?
When the doctor measures your blood pressure, the doctor will get two numbers. The first is the "top number" that shows systolic blood pressure, and the second is the "bottom number" aka your diastolic blood pressure.
For example, if your blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, then your systolic blood pressure is 120mmHg, and your diastolic blood pressure is 80mmHg. Systolic pressure is the peak pressure when the heart pumps blood throughout the body, while diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure during the resting phase, which is when blood fills the heart.
What is isolated systolic hypertension?
In isolated systolic hypertension, measured systolic pressure usually increases (more than 140mmHg), while the diastolic pressure is below 90mmHg. This type of hypertension usually occurs in older people, especially elderly women. In fact, most populations above the age of 60 who have hypertension experience isolated systolic hypertension.
Distinction or difference in systolic and diastolic pressure in the elderly describes the stiffness of the aorta or large blood vessels around the heart due to the process of atherosclerosis or accumulation of fat in the blood vessels. This stiffness causes 'storage' which is insufficient when blood fills the heart, so diastolic blood pressure in the elderly will tend to be low.
Systolic blood pressure of more than 140mmHg is a large risk factor for the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and heart attack. In addition, uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause damage to important organs in the body such as the kidneys, brain, heart and eyes.
How to overcome this if you already have hypertension?
If you experience isolated systolic hypertension, your doctor may take several tests to rule out the possibility of anemia and other medical conditions. In addition, your doctor may also evaluate the risk factors you have for experiencing heart disease, such as measuring your body mass index, checking cholesterol levels, and checking for signs of damage to organs such as the eyes or kidneys.
The important step you need to take is to change your lifestyle. This is the key to the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Changing your lifestyle means reducing excess weight, exercising regularly, stopping smoking, reducing salt consumption, and increasing consumption of healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits. You can also apply DASH diet to get optimal blood pressure reduction.
In addition to changing your lifestyle, you also need to take medication given by your doctor regularly. There are various types of hypertension drugs, and your doctor will choose the best that suits your condition.
It is important for you to take medication regularly so that your blood pressure is maintained. The desired blood pressure target for all people with high blood pressure is less than 140 / 90mmHg, except for patients aged 60 years or older without diabetes or kidney disorders, the target blood pressure is less than 150 / 90mmHg. Therefore, you also need to check with your doctor regularly to find out if the treatment you are currently taking is right or still needs further adjustments.
