HypertensionHypertension(High Blood Pressure)(High Blood Pressure)

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Table of Contents What is the hypertension? What causes hypertension? Who’s at risk? What are some of the symptoms? How is hypertension treated? How can it be prevented? Stats and research Other information References Quiz

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels

Blood pressure varies on each heartbeat between systolic (highest pressure) and diastolic (lowest pressure)

A blood pressure reading is given as systolic pressure/diastolic pressure

What is hypertension?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a noninfectious chronic disease that occurs when one’s blood pressure is above 120/80

What causes hypertension?What causes hypertension?

While the exact causes are unclear, many factors lead to the While the exact causes are unclear, many factors lead to the development of high blood pressure. These include:development of high blood pressure. These include:

SmokingSmoking ObesityObesity Inactive lifestyleInactive lifestyle Eating overly salty foodsEating overly salty foods More than 1 to 2 alcoholic drinks per dayMore than 1 to 2 alcoholic drinks per day StressStress Old ageOld age Genetics/family historyGenetics/family history Chronic Kidney DiseaseChronic Kidney Disease Adrenal or thyroid disordersAdrenal or thyroid disorders

Who’s at risk?Who’s at risk?

Anyone can develop high blood Anyone can develop high blood pressurepressure

The more risk factors a person has, The more risk factors a person has, the more likely they are to develop the more likely they are to develop the conditionthe condition

African Americans, pregnant women, African Americans, pregnant women, and women on birth control also and women on birth control also have a higher riskhave a higher risk

What are some of the symptoms?

Often there are no symptoms or signs of high blood pressure, which is why it is important to get your blood pressure checked regularly

Symptoms (cont.)

However, some symptoms of extremely high BP can includeSevere headachesFaintingChest painDifficulty breathingIrregular heartbeatBlood in the urine

How is hypertension How is hypertension treated?treated?

• Hypertension can be controlled with Hypertension can be controlled with a combination of lifestyle changes, a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and follow-up medications, and follow-up treatmentstreatments

Lifestyle ChangesLifestyle Changes

• Someone with hypertension must Someone with hypertension must eliminate the risk factors from their eliminate the risk factors from their lifestylelifestyle

• These changes include quitting These changes include quitting smoking, losing weight, limiting or smoking, losing weight, limiting or eliminating alcohol consumption, eliminating alcohol consumption, eating healthy, and getting enough eating healthy, and getting enough exerciseexercise

Drug TherapyDrug Therapy

• Usually the first choice of therapy are Usually the first choice of therapy are diuretics, or “water pills” that rid your diuretics, or “water pills” that rid your body of excess salt and water through body of excess salt and water through your urineyour urine

• If this doesn’t work, there are also ACE If this doesn’t work, there are also ACE inhibitors, ARBs, Beta-blockers, and inhibitors, ARBs, Beta-blockers, and Calcium channel blockersCalcium channel blockers

• For extremely high BP, two drugs may be For extremely high BP, two drugs may be prescribed at one timeprescribed at one time

Follow-up TreatmentFollow-up Treatment

• The patient should follow up with The patient should follow up with their doctor once a month until their their doctor once a month until their blood pressure goal is metblood pressure goal is met

• After that, they should meet once or After that, they should meet once or twice a year to check that their blood twice a year to check that their blood pressure is healthypressure is healthy

Primary PreventionPrimary Prevention

Avoid the lifestyle risk factors that Avoid the lifestyle risk factors that lead to hypertension:lead to hypertension:

Be activeBe active Eat healthyEat healthy Don’t smokeDon’t smoke Don’t drink large amounts of alcoholDon’t drink large amounts of alcohol

Secondary PreventionSecondary Prevention

Get your blood pressure checked Get your blood pressure checked regularly when you visit the doctorregularly when you visit the doctor

Tertiary PreventionTertiary Prevention

Set up a plan with your doctor Set up a plan with your doctor involving lifestyle changes and involving lifestyle changes and possibly medicationpossibly medication

Follow-up on a regular schedule to Follow-up on a regular schedule to make sure you stay on top of your make sure you stay on top of your planplan

StatisticsStatistics

1 in 4 American adults have hypertension1 in 4 American adults have hypertension33% of those who have the condition are 33% of those who have the condition are

unaware of itunaware of itPeople with hypertension 4-6 times more People with hypertension 4-6 times more

likely to have a strokelikely to have a stroke

Other informationOther information

Hypertension can lead to strokes, heart Hypertension can lead to strokes, heart attack, kidney failure, memory loss, and attack, kidney failure, memory loss, and vision problemsvision problems

References CitedReferences Cited

WebMD.com WebMD.com

AmericanHeart.org AmericanHeart.org

Quiz!

• 1. What is blood pressure?• 2. What are some hypertension risk

factors?• 3. How can you treat hypertension?• 4. True or false? 1 in every 2 American

adults have hypertension.• 5. How can you know for sure if you

have hypertension?