General Information About High Blood Pressure
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the disease where the pressure exerted by blood on the vessel walls is continuously at high levels, and this physical force disrupts the structure of the vessels, causing them to stiffen.
The public generally thinks that high blood pressure will always cause dizziness, nosebleeds, or neck pain; THIS IS FALSE! The most common symptom of high blood pressure is 'SHOWING NO SYMPTOMS AT ALL.' Even someone with a blood pressure of 180 mmHg might not feel it, while their vessels may be decaying. Therefore, routine blood pressure measurement after the age of 35 is mandatory.
Primary (Essential) Hypertension: It accounts for 90% of cases. There is no single cause; aging, genetics, obesity, salt, and stress harden the vessels over time and raise blood pressure.
Secondary Hypertension: It is the skyrocketing of blood pressure due to a concrete underlying disease (e.g., Renal artery stenosis, adrenal gland tumor, thyroid disease). It is common in young people; when that disease is treated, the blood pressure problem also permanently resolves.
The number 1 enemy is SALT (Sodium) consumption. Salt retains water in the vessels, increasing the pressure. Additionally, Obesity (every extra 10 kilos raises blood pressure), Smoking/Alcohol use, physical inactivity, Sleep Apnea (nighttime suffocation), and chronic stress are the biggest triggers.
It is the sudden rise of blood pressure above very dangerous limits (Systolic 180, Diastolic 120 mmHg). If the patient starts to have knife-like headaches, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, loss of vision, and nosebleeds, it means these organs are bleeding/getting damaged (Requires Emergency Department).
NO! The idea 'If I start taking pills, I will get used to it and become addicted' is the most harmful ignorance in society. Blood pressure pills are not drugs; they are protective shields that relax the vessels, just like a person with poor eyesight wearing glasses every day.
Half of the treatment is diet (Zero salt and weight loss), and the other half is the medication prescribed by the doctor. If the patient stops taking their medicine on their own, saying 'My blood pressure has dropped now', the hidden blood pressure will spike again 1 week later and the danger of stroke (paralysis) will begin.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
