Health is wealth

High blood pressure or hypertension

What is blood pressure?

The blood pressure is higher while the heart contracts (systole) and lower while the heart relaxes and expands (diastole).

The typical values for normal blood pressure are 120 x 80 mmHg .

Blood pressure whose values are above 140/90 is considered high blood pressure

Sideeffect

Some factors that increase the risk of high blood pressure are the lack of physical activity or too little physical activity and being overweight.

In elderly patients there is probably another mechanism that causes high blood pressure: the hardening of the blood vessels.

Causes

Sometimes kidney problems, hormone problems, taking medication, etc. causes the blood pressure to rise. Such hypertension is called “secondary”.

secondary hypertension

Malignant hypertension is very high blood pressure (more than 180/110) that usually rises suddenly and very quickly.

malignant hypertension

Who needs treatment

High blood pressure over time involves morbidity of the heart and blood vessels, and the goal of treatment is to reduce the risk of having these diseases.

High blood pressure is a very common condition, and family doctors are knowledgeable and experienced in diagnosing and treating it.