DESCRIPTION
Hypertension is an increase above normal in the pressure by blood circulating through the arteries. It may occur as a result of a persistent disease, or probably an underlying disease. Recent studies has shown that hypertension has grown to be the common health defect circulating amidst people within the age bracket 40-70years. Specific cause of this disease is generally not conclusive, but the risk of developing hypertension increases with obesity, stress, lack of exercise, and probably hereditary in rare cases.
Hypertension affects people in the western countries more than those in the eastern part,and its not a disease assigned to a particular gender.
Organs affected by hypertension in the body includes the heart, arteries, and also the kidneys.
Medically we have two type of hypertension disease, namely:
1. Essential hypertension
2. Malignant hypertension (this might actually be the end stage of essential hypertension stated above).
SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTENSION
The first and visible symptom of hypertension is the occurrence of headache just immediately after waking up, and tends to disappear few hours of experiencing it, and to occur back in the evening. The headache is mostly felt at the back of the head.
Another obvious symptom to watch out for is the occurrence of noise around the tinnitus found in the ear. And also occurrence of dizziness.
Note:if not properly taken Care of, it results to patient death due to heart attack, kidney failure, stroke or cerebral hemorrhage.
High diastolic blood pressure is an obvious symptom in malignant hypertension, and (diastole is a phase where the heart relaxes between contractions, when the ventricles is filled with blood, this phase last for at least half seconds, and the end of which the ventricles are about three quarter full).
There is also swelling of the optic disc, or papilla because of the high intra cranial pressure within the head (called papilloedema)
NOTE: if hypertension is not treated and left over a long period of time, it can result to sudden death due to kidney failure.
TREATMENT:
proper dieting, Food with low salt, low saturated content is recommended for an hypertensive patient. Also smoking should be avoided. Engaging in a less stressful exercise can go a long way in helping the body system.
Many antihypertensive drugs are always available, its advisable to see a doctor for proper prescription of those drugs. Note that some drug produces side effects,one just have to be careful on drug usage.
With early detection and treatment of hypertension the outcome is usually good and the development of fatal complications can be averted.
