Blood Pressure: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Figures indicate that one in five adults in India suffers from high blood pressure (as per research by the Cardiological Society of India: 1).

When viewed from farther away, this number equates to approximately 60 million people, a considerable chunk of the country’s populace. 

Raised blood pressure or hypertension now stands as a major cause of death and disability in the world (2). 

So, allow us to answer all your questions about blood pressure.

Blood pressure refers to the force with which your blood pushes against the walls of the arteries. The heart pumps blood into arteries each time it contracts. Therefore, your blood pressure does not remain constant throughout the day and shows minor fluctuations. Rather, when you are awake and physically active, the blood pressure rises, which is called systolic blood pressure. 

On the other hand, it is at the lowest when you are asleep, and your heart is at rest between beats, known as diastolic pressure. Additionally, this diastolic blood pressure can increase with one’s age because of stiffening arteries. 

Moreover, blood pressure is written as diastolic and systolic values. Let us understand this through an example:

Let’s say your BP is 120/80 mmHg. Here, 120 indicates the systolic number, whereas 80 is the diastolic number.

So, what is normal blood pressure? Generally, blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg is viewed as normal. The table below offers a closer look at the same by highlighting the normal blood pressure according to age and sex:

More often than not, individuals do not exhibit any of the symptoms of high blood pressure, even if their BP readings are at dangerously high levels. Therefore, hypertension is also labelled as “the silent killer.” However, some patients experience several symptoms experience a number of symptoms, which includes the following:

• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Back pain
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness or numbness
• Pulsations in the head or neck
• Difficulty in speaking

The precise causes of high blood pressure are still not known. However, researchers believe that high blood pressure is caused by several factors, which can trigger this condition, namely: 

• Smoking 
• High levels of stress
• Genetics and family history of high BP
• Being obese or overweight
• Lack of physical activity or exercise
• Old age
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Too much salt (sodium) in the diet
• Lack of potassium in the diet
• Chronic kidney disease
• Sleep apnea
• Thyroid or adrenal disorders

Healthcare providers diagnose high blood pressure through a test, which works in the following manner:

• A reading is taken through a pressure cuff placed around the upper arm. This cuff is then inflated manually or electronically. 
• When inflated, this cuff compresses the arm’s brachial artery, which momentarily stops blood flow.
• Then, the air inside this cuff is released while the healthcare provider listens to pulsations with a stethoscope or monitors the electronic reading.

When diagnosed with high blood pressure or hypertension, physicians prescribe the following medications:

• Calcium channel blockers - Prevents calcium from entering your heart and arteries.
• ACE inhibitors - Relaxes arteries and veins, thereby lowering blood pressure.
• Vasodilators - Opens blood vessels to widen, allowing blood to flow easily.
• Beta-blockers - Blocks the effects of epinephrine and reduces pressure.
• Diuretics - Reduces sodium concentration in the body, controlling pressure in the process
• Alpha-blockers - Prevents norepinephrine from tightening arterial walls. 

Moreover, patients with hypertension must make certain lifestyle changes such as:

• Quit smoking
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid situations that cause stress 
• Practice meditation or other stress-relieving exercises
• Completely avoid alcohol or limit its intake
• Incorporate a diet that is low on sodium and fat
• Include more sources of potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the diet, such as soybeans, bananas, potatoes, yoghurt, milk, poultry, fish, nuts, etc.
• Cut back on the intake of caffeine

Furthermore, individuals over the age of 35 years must regularly monitor their blood pressure. These preventive measures to control blood pressure can help patients on their road to recovery.

Emergency treatment is required for patients with severe hypertension as well as those experiencing a stroke or heart failure, among other major health crises. In this case, the patient must be rushed to the nearest hospital at the earliest. Healthcare providers use injectable drugs for emergency treatment of high blood pressure. Following are some common medications used under this circumstance:

• Labetalol (Normodyne) - It is a beta-blocker. 
• Sodium nitroprusside (Nipride) - Acts as a vasodilator 
• Nicardipine (Cardene) - Prevents calcium influx into the heart

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Elevated blood pressure results in excessive pressure on artery walls, causing damage to the blood vessels and other organs. The higher one’s blood pressure and the longer it remains uncontrolled, the severe are its damages. 

Listed below are some health complications of high blood pressure: 

• Stroke or heart attack: High BP can lead to thickening or hardening of the arteries. This can result in a stroke, heart attack, or other severe complications.
• Heart failure: When the heart is working against high pressure in vessels, it undergoes additional pressure to pump it. Subsequently, the walls of its pumping chamber can thicken, which eventually obstructs the process of pumping blood, thereby resulting in heart failure.
• Dementia: Blocked or narrowed arteries may limit the flow of blood to one’s brain. This can lead to a certain type of dementia called vascular dementia. Additionally, it can be caused by a stroke interrupting blood flow to the brain.
• Aneurysm: Raised blood pressure causes weakening and bulging in blood vessels, which causes aneurysm. Moreover, a rupture in an aneurysm can be life-threatening.
• Alterations of blood vessels in kidneys: High BP can result in narrowed or weakened blood vessels in the kidneys, which can hinder the organ’s functionality. 
• Metabolic syndrome: It is a group of disorders in a body’s metabolism. This includes high triglycerides, high insulin levels, decreased “good” cholesterol, etc. These conditions make an individual vulnerable to stroke, diabetes, and heart diseases. 
• Change in the blood vessels of the eyes: Consistently high blood pressure can result in torn, thickened, or narrowed blood vessels in the eye. This can lead to vision loss in the long run.
• Issues with memory and comprehension: Uncontrolled high BP can also affect your ability to remember, learn, and think. The trouble with understanding concepts and memory is common in patients with hypertension.

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Several home remedies can prevent high blood pressure. So, if you suffer from hypertension, you can try these home remedies for lowering blood pressure:

• Add a pinch of cardamom and a teaspoon of coriander to one cup of freshly squeezed peach juice. You should drink this solution 2-3 times a day to control high BP.
• Moong dal (yellow split gram) can help lower high blood pressure. So, try consuming moong dal soup by adding a pinch of turmeric, some cumin, and cilantro.
• Eat a clove of garlic every morning, as it is a natural blood thinner which can control cholesterol levels &  high blood pressure. 
• Honey water is also believed to help with hypertension. You can incorporate more honey into your diet by drinking a solution of 10 drops of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey to a cup of warm water every morning on an empty stomach.
• Mix coconut water and orange juice in a ratio of 1:2. Drink this solution 2-3 times a day.
• Include amla (Indian gooseberry) in your diet. It contains vitamin C, which widens blood vessels and regulates blood cholesterol levels. Moreover, consuming amla juice every morning on an empty stomach can control hypertension, among other ailments.
• Cucumber raita is a good diuretic that can keep your hypertension as well as digestive health in check.
• Add small quantities of ashwagandha (Indian ginseng) to your evening tea.
• Eat watermelon with a pinch of coriander and cardamom. The fruit is said to help with regulating blood pressure.

And, that marks the end of our guide on blood pressure. We hope it offered some insights on the condition that will help you deal with hypertension and enjoy a happy, healthy life.

The following practices or habits can keep your blood pressure in check - 

• Exercising regularly
• Keeping your body weight under check
• Sticking to a healthy and balanced diet
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Avoid smoking
• Getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep regularly

Adopting these lifestyle changes should help you avoid complications with high blood pressure or hypertension.