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.

What is 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:

Blood Pressure Diastolic (Male)

Age	Systolic/Diastolic blood pressure
61-65	143.5/76.5
56-60	129.5/79.5
51-55	125.5/80.5
46-50	119.5/80.5
41-45	115.5/78.5
36-40	120.5/75.5
31-35	114.5/75.5
26-30	119.5/76.5
21-25	120.5/78.5
61-65	130.5/77.5

Blood Pressure Diastolic (Female)

Age	Systolic/Diastolic blood pressure
56-60	132.5/78.5
51-55	122.55/74.5
46-50	124/78.5
41-45	116.5/73.5
36-40	112.5/74.5
31-35	110.5/72.5
26-30	113.5/71.5
21-25	115.5/70.5

Furthermore, one’s blood pressure readings can consistently range between 120-129 systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic. When this is the case, the individual is known to have elevated blood pressure, which, if overlooked, puts him/her at risk of high blood pressure.

What is High Blood Pressure?

A BP of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered to be high blood pressure. It is also known as hypertension. High blood pressure is a common condition in which blood’s long-term force against artery walls is abnormally high, so much so that it may eventually lead to health complications.

Generally, hypertension occurs in two distinct stages, namely, stage 1 and stage 2.

Stage 1 - Here, the systolic and diastolic pressure is just marginally higher than the normal range.

Stage 2 - In this phase, systolic and diastolic pressures are alarmingly high, leading to several health issues in the long run, if it remains unchecked.

The table below summarises the various stages of high blood pressure:

Category of blood pressure	Systolic blood pressure	Diastolic blood pressure
Stage 1 hypertension	130-139	80-89
Stage 2 hypertension	140 or higher	100 or higher
Isolated systolic hypertension (dangerously high blood pressure that requires immediate medical assistance)	180 or higher	120 or higher

What are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?

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

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

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

How is Blood Pressure Diagnosed?

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.

What is the Best Treatment for High Blood Pressure?

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.

What is the Emergency Treatment for High Blood Pressure?

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

What are the Complications of High Blood Pressure?

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.

Are there any Indian Home Remedies for Blood Pressure?

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.

How can you Prevent High Blood Pressure?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

✓ How do you feel when you have high blood pressure?

Most individuals with high blood pressure do not show any symptoms of the condition. However, in some cases, people with hypertension may experience a pounding feeling in their chest or head, dizziness or light-headedness, headaches, fatigue, and difficulty breathing.

✓ Does anxiety cause high blood pressure?

Anxiety does not cause long-term hypertension. However, episodes of anxiety can lead to dramatic but temporary spikes in one’s blood pressure.

✓ Why do I suddenly have high blood pressure?

There can be several factors leading to spikes in your blood pressure, such as excess caffeine intake, particular medications (like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), or a combination of medications.

✓ How can I lower my blood pressure fast at home?

You can make certain lifestyle changes to reduce high blood pressure. These changes include regular workouts, reduction in sodium intake, lowering alcohol consumption, cutting back on caffeine, adding more potassium-rich food in the diet, managing stress through meditation or other stress-relieving exercises, and giving up the habit of smoking.

✓ What are the signs of a stroke caused by high blood pressure?

Numbness or weakness in the face, leg, or arm, especially on just one side of the body, can be a warning sign of a stroke. Moreover, individuals can experience trouble in understanding or speaking and dimness or loss of vision.