Contents:
- Medical Video: High Blood Pressure | Hypertension | Nucleus Health
- Causes of primary hypertension
- 1. High salt intake
- 2. Stress
- 3. Lazy motion
- 4. Obesity
- 5. Smoking
- 6. Drink liquor
- Causes of secondary hypertension
- What are the factors that can increase the risk of high blood pressure?
- What are the symptoms of high blood pressure to watch out for?
- How to prevent hypertension?
- 1. Actively moving
- 2. Lower weight
- 3. Stop smoking
- 4. Expand fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber
- 5. Cook home alone
- 6. Always pay attention to food labels
- 7. Manage stress
Medical Video: High Blood Pressure | Hypertension | Nucleus Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that the prevalence of high blood pressure (hypertension) in the world continues to increase every year. In Indonesia, the 2013 Republic of Indonesia's Ministry of Health's Riskesdas data shows that 25.8 percent of Indonesia's population has hypertension. Indirectly, this number contributes to an increase in cases of hypertension globally in the future. Knowing the various causes of hypertension can reduce your risk of developing this disease in the future.
There are two types of hypertension that are determined based on the cause, namely primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. Check out all information about the causes of hypertension below.
Causes of primary hypertension
As many as 95 percent of people with high blood pressure experience primary hypertension (essential), which is high blood pressure without a clear cause of the cause. This type of hypertension tends to appear gradually over many years.
Experts suspect that genetic factors are one of the causes of primary hypertension. But some unhealthy lifestyle habits can also contribute to the cause of primary hypertension. Some of these unhealthy habits include:
1. High salt intake
Salt is one of the food additives that causes hypertension. Then what is the relationship between salt and blood pressure?
It turns out that high salt intake can interfere with the natural sodium balance in your body. Well, sodium levels in the body can increase and cause sodium retention. Sodium retention can increase the pressure given by blood flow to the walls of blood vessels. As a result, there is high blood pressure or hypertension.
Therefore, most people with high blood pressure must be advised by doctors to limit their salt intake. Not only ordinary salt or table salt, people who have high blood pressure should also avoid salt or sodium in other forms, for example in packaged foods, fast food, and so forth. In fact, even though they have taken medication to lower blood pressure, people who have hypertension also have to reduce their salt intake.
Research published in the 2002 Journal of Human Hypertension states that reducing salt intake from 10 grams to 6 grams per day can reduce the risk of high blood pressure. In the end it can reduce the risk of death by stroke by 14 percent and 9 percent of deaths from coronary heart disease in patients with hypertension.
2. Stress
People say, prolonged stress can be a cause of hypertension. Apparently this assumption is not a myth. Because stress makes the brain release stress hormones in the body, such as cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine, all of which can cause an increase in heart rate and narrow the diameter of blood vessels. As a result, your blood pressure will increase by 30-40 percent. Although this increase in blood pressure is temporary.
Even so, soaring high blood pressure that occurs suddenly and only briefly is still dangerous. In fact, it is just as dangerous as chronic high blood pressure. In this situation, damage to blood vessels, heart and kidneys can also occur.
So, if you often feel stressed or anxious, for example every day, then it can cause damage to blood vessels, heart and kidneys, which can trigger chronic high blood pressure later on.
Not only that, stress also often makes you do unhealthy habits, such as smoking, drinking, or even eating in excessive portions. Well, in the end these things can actually be the cause of high blood pressure.
3. Lazy motion
Lazy motion is a cause of hypertension which is often underestimated. Usually people who lack physical activity and exercise have a heart rate that tends to be faster. This makes your heart have to work harder to pump blood, which ultimately impacts on increasing blood pressure.
Physical activity or regular exercise has long been known as an effective way to reduce the risk of hypertension and help control high blood pressure in people who do have a history of the disease.
Don't reason You don't have time, sports are actually very easy to do, really. No need for high intensity exercise, you can go up to the classroom or office through the stairs, not the escalator or elevator. When walking in the mall, don't just stay on the escalator. Climb the stairs as if you were up an ordinary ladder.
4. Obesity
Obesity and being overweight are closely related to high blood pressure. In fact, both of these are considered as the most common causes of high blood pressure.
You belong to being overweight if your body mass index is above 23. While you are classified as obese if your body mass index is above 25. First check your body mass index with a BMI calculator here.
The heavier your body mass is, the more blood is needed to deliver oxygen and nutrients to all body tissues. Therefore, the pressure in the arteries will rise so that blood can be circulated smoothly. As a result, the heart forced to work hard for a long time can be damaged.
5. Smoking
Smoking can cause an increase in blood pressure. This is not surprising because on cigarette packs openly stated that smoking can be a cause of hypertension. Yes, smoking can be a cause of high blood pressure because it makes direct blood pressure rise sharply after the first suction - increasing the systolic blood pressure level by 4 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The nicotine content in cigarettes triggers the nervous system to release chemicals that can constrict blood vessels while increasing blood pressure.
Smoking also causes long-term damage to blood vessels, so it not only increases the risk of hypertension, but can develop other diseases later in life such as strokes, heart disease, and heart attacks.
In simple terms, the combination of smoking and hypertension puts you at greater risk of developing the various diseases mentioned above compared to people who have hypertension but don't smoke.
6. Drink liquor
Alcohol can dilate blood vessels so that it can reduce blood pressure temporarily. However, this happens if alcohol is consumed on a small scale. Various studies have stated that the habit of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in a long time can be a cause of high blood pressure or worsen the symptoms of hypertension if you have already been diagnosed with the disease.
Alcohol can actually narrow blood vessels if consumed in high doses and repeated. Over time, this can also cause damage to blood vessels and other internal organs which certainly increases various health risks.
To control blood pressure so that it is always within the normal range, consume no more than one alcoholic drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. If you reduce alcohol consumption, research shows that this can reduce the systolic blood pressure level by 3 mm Hg.
Primary hypertension can be experienced by all ages. But this condition most often occurs in middle age. Most people who have hypertension of this type will not feel the symptoms that they just know have high blood pressure when doing medical check-uproutinely.
Causes of secondary hypertension
In some cases, other medical conditions that have already attacked before can be a cause of high blood pressure. Increased blood pressure for this reason is called secondary hypertension.
Secondary hypertension tends to appear suddenly and can cause high blood pressure to increase compared to primary hypertension. Not only the influence of certain medical conditions, the use of certain drugs can also contribute greatly to the cause of secondary hypertension.
Here are some conditions and medications that can be the cause of secondary hypertension:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Kidney problems
- Adrenal gland tumor
- Thyroid problem
- Congenital defects in blood vessels
- Certain medications, such as birth control pills, flu, decongestants, pain relievers and some prescription drugs
- Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines
- Pregnancy
What are the factors that can increase the risk of high blood pressure?
The term "risk factor" itself is not the direct cause of hypertension. But only habits, conditions, and similar things that can increase your risk of hypertension. Well, therefore, the more risk factors for hypertension you have, the greater your chances of getting high blood pressure.
Risk factors for hypertension are divided into two, namely those that cannot be changed and can be changed. Some risk factors for hypertension that cannot be changed include:
- Age. As we age, our blood vessels become stiffer, no longer elastic. As a result, blood pressure increases. Although high blood pressure is most common in adults, children are also at risk. The cause of hypertension in children is mostly due to problems with the kidneys or heart. However, some unhealthy lifestyle habits can also increase the risk of hypertension in children.
- History of hypertension in the family.If parents, siblings, or other family members have high blood pressure, you are more at risk of getting hypertension.
- Gender.Until reaching the age of 64 years, men are more susceptible to high blood pressure than women. Whereas at the age of 65 years and over, women who are more prone to high blood pressure.
While the risk factors for hypertension that can still be changed include:
- Obesity and being overweight
- Lack of movement
- Dietary habit
- Alcoholism
- Stressful
- Smoke
- Take certain drugs, such as NSAIDs, birth control pills, cold medicines, and so on
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure to watch out for?
People who have high blood pressure usually do not show any characteristics or symptoms. Even you may not really realize that you have high blood pressure. The main reason for this problem is that undiagnosed hypertension often displays invisible symptoms.
The only sure way to determine confidently about hypertension is through regular blood pressure testing.
Even though many people experience hypertension without clear warning signs, you may experience symptoms that show unhealthy blood pressure levels. People in this category often have distant blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg.
The 140 mmHG number refers to systolic reading, when the heart pumps blood throughout the body. Meanwhile, the 90 mmHG number refers to diastolic reading, when the heart is relaxed while refilling its chambers with blood.
In general, some of the symptoms of hypertension that are often experienced by many people include:
- Severe headache
- Dizzy
- Blurred vision
- Feeling bad
- Looks confused
- Pain in the chest area
- Breathless
- Irregular heartbeat
- The sensation of pounding on the chest, neck, or ears
- There is blood in the urine
If you experience one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, and you are worried about your current blood pressure level, consult your doctor immediately.
How to prevent hypertension?
Lifestyle changes are important steps to prevent. Good if you have been diagnosed with hypertension, pre-hypertension, or have normal blood pressure. Yes, without you even knowing there are actually some healthy habits that can prevent high blood pressure. Not only that, if done regularly, the following habits can also help reduce the risk of chronic diseases due to worsening hypertension.
Here are some healthy habits that can be done to help prevent hypertension:
1. Actively moving
Exercise and physical activity are key to maintaining your overall health. In fact, both are the most effective ways to prevent hypertension. You do not have to exercise with high intensity, light physical activities such as walking, cleaning the house, up and down stairs, etc. have had a big influence on you. The key is to make your body actively move.
2. Lower weight
Well, besides being active, reducing weight is also effective in preventing hypertension. So if the sports tricks have not been effective enough to reduce weight, try a more intense sport. For example exercise atthe gym, jogging, riding a bicycle, swimming, or yoga. Don't forget, offset the application of a healthy diet. That way, your weight loss process will run more optimally.
3. Stop smoking
Remember, smoking is the most common cause of high blood pressure. So, stop smoking for normal blood pressure. It's not easy, but that doesn't mean you can't do it. Start slowly. For example, if you can spend one pack of cigarettes a day, try to reduce a few sticks. Reduce the number of cigarettes every day until you can stop smoking completely.
For those of you who don't smoke, stay away from cigarette smoke to prevent the health effects of being a passive smoker.
4. Expand fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber
Fruits and vegetables are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, potassium, antioxidants, and magnesium. So, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help you lower blood pressure. Even a study shows that eating lots of fruit can prevent you from experiencing hypertension later on.
Consume fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. A number of studies published in the Journal of Hypertension found that high fiber intake was associated with a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure rates for people with hypertension.
5. Cook home alone
Cooking habits at home is very important if you want to reduce or even prevent high blood pressure. By cooking at home, you can ensure that the food you will consume later is a quality and nutritious food ingredient. In addition, you can measure the amount of salt used in one cook. Because, consuming lots of salt contributes greatly to increasing blood pressure.
Remember, food made at the factory is processed in such a way that the shelf life is long. The fiber will be taken, added various chemicals, and given salt, fat, and added sugar.
So, from now on, make it a habit to cook at home rather than buy outside. First try simple recipes that you like so that cooking shows are fun.
6. Always pay attention to food labels
Always remember that salt is the enemy of hypertension. So, as much as possible reduce various foods that are high in sodium and too salty from everyday foods. It's easy, really. You can read nutritional information printed on food labels.
Without your realizing it, packaged foods tend to contain a lot of sodium. Even if food is labeled "healthy food" or "natural food". American Heart Association noted that bread, packaged meat, and canned soup turned out to be quite high in sodium.
7. Manage stress
How to prevent hypertension is often underestimated. In fact, many people don't even know it. In fact, managing stress plays a role to stabilize your blood pressure, thus preventing the occurrence of hypertension.
Severe stress will narrow the blood vessels. This is what contributes to the cause of high blood pressure, even if only temporarily. However, starting from stress a variety of unhealthy habits can be done. For example, eating mostly, staying up late, addicted to cigarettes, or drinking excessive alcoholic drinks.
Therefore, manage your stress as well as possible. For example by exercising,ventto your closest friends, take a break, or calm your mind with deep breathing techniques. In essence, avoid all things that cause high blood pressure as mentioned above. That way, your risk of getting this disease in the future will also decrease.
