hyper tensions is a major killer in the united states. how does it do its damage course hero

by Bert Aufderhar I 10 min read

What is HTN (hypertension)?

Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure typically does not cause symptoms.

What are the barriers to effective management of hypertension?

Adequate management of hypertension can be hampered by inadequacies in the diagnosis, treatment, or control of high blood pressure. Health care providers face many obstacles to achieving blood pressure control, including resistance to taking multiple medications to reach blood pressure goals.

Why is hypertension an important issue?

Hypertension can also burst or block arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain, causing a stroke. In addition, hypertension can cause kidney damage, leading to kidney failure. Why is hypertension an important issue in low- and middle-income countries?

What percentage of people with hypertension are aware of their condition?

In the US 80% of people with hypertension are aware of their condition, 71% take some antihypertensive medication, but only 48% of people aware that they have hypertension adequately control it. Adequate management of hypertension can be hampered by inadequacies in the diagnosis, treatment, or control of high blood pressure.

How is hyper tension caused?

High blood pressure usually develops over time. It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and having obesity, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure.

Where are the damaging effects of hypertension most notable?

High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. This causes the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle) to thicken. A thickened left ventricle increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

Is hypertension the leading cause of death in the US?

Stage 2 hypertension is defined as a blood pressure at or above 140/90 mmHg. Having hypertension puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. In 2020, more than 670,000 deaths in the United States had hypertension as a primary or contributing cause.

Can hyper tension be cured?

There is no cure for high blood pressure. But treatment can lower blood pressure that is too high. If it is mild, high blood pressure may sometimes be brought under control by making changes to a healthier lifestyle.

What is the average blood pressure for a 70 year old?

Normal blood pressure for most adults is defined as a systolic pressure of less than 120 and a diastolic pressure of less than 80.

How long does it take for high blood pressure to cause damage?

In other words, once blood pressure rises above normal, subtle but harmful brain changes can occur rather quickly—perhaps within a year or two. And those changes may be hard to reverse, even if blood pressure is nudged back into the normal range with treatment.

Why is hypertension known as the silent killer?

Often referred to as the “silent killer” because it may show no symptoms, high blood pressure puts you at an increased risk for heart disease, heart failure, and stroke, among other things.

How does hypertension affect the world?

Hypertension affects more than 30% of the adult population worldwide, more than one billion people around the world. It is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary heart disease and stroke, but also for chronic kidney disease, heart failure, arrhythmia and dementia.

What is the scope of the hypertension problem in America?

Nearly 1 out of 2 adults in the United States has hypertension (116 million). Approximately 1 in 5 adults with hypertension in the United States are recommended lifestyle modifications only (24.3 million).

Can drinking lemon water reduce blood pressure?

04/8​Lowers blood pressure Lemon drink contains traces of several minerals that may be beneficial in lowering blood pressure. Calcium and potassium both can lower blood pressure in those suffering from hypertension. A study suggests that lemon water can help bring the number to the normal range immediately.

Do I have to take amlodipine forever?

How long to take it for. Usually, treatment with amlodipine is long term, even for the rest of your life. Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking amlodipine. Stopping may cause your blood pressure to rise, and this may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.

What happens if you take blood pressure medicine and don't need it?

Taking medicine at the wrong doses or times or stopping high blood pressure medicine suddenly can be downright dangerous to your health. If your blood pressure remains too high, you're more likely to develop other serious problems such as heart attacks, stroke, or kidney disease.

What is target organ damage in hypertension?

Chronic exposure to high BP leads to damage of target organs, such as heart, kidney, and brain. In populations with high cardiovascular risk, this damage of target organs might better represent exposure to high BP than the BP measurement itself because of antihypertensive treatment effects and cardiovascular aging.

What are the major complications of hypertension?

ComplicationsHeart attack or stroke. Hardening and thickening of the arteries due to high blood pressure or other factors can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other complications.Aneurysm. ... Heart failure. ... Kidney problems. ... Eye problems. ... Metabolic syndrome. ... Changes with memory or understanding. ... Dementia.

Which body system is primarily affected by hypertension?

Abstract. The heart, kidney, brain, and arterial blood vessels are prime targets of hypertensive damage. Uncontrolled hypertension accelerates the damage to these organs and results in eventual organ failure and cardiovascular death and disability.

What body systems are affected by high blood pressure?

High blood pressure can damage the larger blood vessels leading to your kidneys and the smaller vessels inside your kidneys. Over time, this damage prevents the kidneys from doing their job properly. This is called kidney disease and can lead to kidney failure.

How many people have blood pressure of 140/90?

About half of adults (45%) with uncontrolled hypertension have a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher. This includes 37 million U.S. adults. 3. About 30 million adults who are recommended to take medication may need it to be prescribed and to start taking it.

What is the blood pressure of a stage 2 hypertension patient?

Stage 2 hypertension is defined as a blood pressure at or above 140/90 mm Hg. 1

How many people have hypertension?

Nearly half of adults in the United States (47%, or 116 million) have hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mmHg or are taking medication for hypertension. 3

What is stage 2 hypertension?

Stage 2. ≥140 mm Hg. or. ≥90 mm Hg. Having hypertension puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. 2. In 2018, nearly half a million deaths in the United States included hypertension as a primary or contributing cause. 2. Nearly half of adults in the United States (108 million, ...

How many people died from high blood pressure in 2018?

High blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of death for more than 494,873 people in the United States in 2018. 2. High blood pressure costs the United States about $131 billion each year, averaged over 12 years from 2003 to 2014. 4.

What are the rates of high blood pressure?

Rates of High Blood Pressure Control Vary by Sex and Race 1 A greater percent of men (47%) have high blood pressure than women (43%). 3 2 High blood pressure is more common in non-Hispanic black adults (54%) than in non-Hispanic white adults (46%), non-Hispanic Asian adults (39%), or Hispanic adults (36%). 3 3 Among those recommended to take blood pressure medication, blood pressure control is higher among non-Hispanic white adults (32%) than in non-Hispanic black adults (25%), non-Hispanic Asian adults (19%), or Hispanic adults (25%). 3

Does blood pressure rise or fall?

Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day , but it can damage your heart and cause health problems if it stays high for a long time. Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, is blood pressure that is higher than normal.

What are the factors that affect blood volume and pressure?

hormone activity in people who manage blood volume and pressure using medication. environmental factors, such as stress and lack of exercise. Secondary hypertension has specific causes and is a complication of another health problem.

What is the name of the blood pressure that increases the risk of heart disease?

Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. It can lead to severe health complications and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and sometimes death. Blood pressure is the force that a person’s blood exerts against the walls of their blood vessels. This pressure depends on the resistance of the blood vessels and how hard ...

What is secondary hypertension?

If an underlying condition is the cause of increasing blood pressure , doctors call this secondary hypertension. Secondary hypertension has specific causes and is a complication of another health problem.

How to measure blood pressure?

Regular physical exercise. People can measure blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer. Current guidelines recommend that all people, including those with hypertension, engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity, aerobic exercise every week, or 75 minutes a week of high intensity exercise.

What does dash mean for people with high blood pressure?

for people with high blood pressure. DASH stands for “Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.”. DASH is a flexible and balanced eating plan with a firm grounding in research by the NHLBI who advise that the diet: lowers high blood pressure. improves levels of fats in the bloodstream.

How does hypertension affect the heart?

This narrowing makes hypertension worse, as the heart must pump harder to circulate the blood.

What does the Dash diet mean?

DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.

Who is affected by high blood pressure?

Approximately 1 in 3, more than 100 million, American adults have high blood pressure. But only half of those people have their condition under control. Many people develop high blood pressure when they are in their late 30’s or early 40’s, and it occurs more frequently as people age. However, because of the obesity epidemic, more and more children are also developing high blood pressure.

What is the blood pressure of the heart?

Blood pressure is defined as the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. High blood pressure – also known as hypertension – is a disease in which blood flows through blood vessels (arteries) at a higher than normal pressure. Blood pressure is measured with two numbers.

How long does it take for blood pressure medication to work?

Your blood pressure medication should begin to work within days. However, because high blood pressure is a long-lasting medical condition that often has little or no symptoms, remembering to take your medications can be a challenge. Combination medicines, long-acting or once-a-day medications, may be used to decrease the burden of taking numerous medications and help ensure medications regularly. Once started, the medication should be used until your doctor tells you to stop.

What is a combination medicine?

Combination medicines, long-acting or once-a-day medications, may be used to decrease the burden of taking numerous medications and help ensure medications regularly. Once started, the medication should be used until your doctor tells you to stop. Types of High Blood pressure medicine. Mechanism of Action.

What is the number of blood pressure?

Blood pressure is measured with two numbers. The first, or top number, is the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats, called the systolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the higher of the two numbers. The second, or bottom number, measures the force of blood in your arteries while your heart is relaxed between beats.

Why is it important to detect high blood pressure?

Often referred to as the “silent killer” because it may show no symptoms, high blood pressure puts you at an increased risk for heart disease, heart failure, and stroke, among other things . According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2013, ...

How to improve blood flow?

decrease certain chemicals that tighten the blood vessels, so blood flows more smoothly and the heart can pump blood more efficiently. relax blood vessels and slow the heart rate to improve blood flow and decrease blood pressure. relax the blood vessels so that the heart does not have to pump as hard.

What is the normal blood pressure for a 18 year old?

In people aged 18 years or older hypertension is defined as either a systolic or a diastolic blood pressure measurement consistently higher than an accepted normal value (this is above 129 or 139 mmHg systo lic, 89 mmHg diastolic depending on the guideline). Other thresholds are used (135 mmHg systolic or 85 mmHg diastolic) if measurements are derived from 24-hour ambulatory or home monitoring. Recent international hypertension guidelines have also created categories below the hypertensive range to indicate a continuum of risk with higher blood pressures in the normal range. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7) published in 2003 uses the term prehypertension for blood pressure in the range 120–139 mmHg systolic or 80–89 mmHg diastolic, while European Society of Hypertension Guidelines (2007) and British Hypertension Society (BHS) IV (2004) use optimal, normal and high normal categories to subdivide pressures below 140 mmHg systolic and 90 mmHg diastolic. Hypertension is also sub-classified: JNC7 distinguishes hypertension stage I, hypertension stage II, and isolated systolic hypertension. Isolated systolic hypertension refers to elevated systolic pressure with normal diastolic pressure and is common in the elderly. The ESH-ESC Guidelines (2007) and BHS IV (2004) additionally define a third stage (stage III hypertension) for people with systolic blood pressure exceeding 179 mmHg or a diastolic pressure over 109 mmHg. Hypertension is classified as "resistant" if medications do not reduce blood pressure to normal levels. In November 2017, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology published a joint guideline which updates the recommendations of the JNC7 report. The 2020 International Society of Hypertension guidelines define hypertension based on office blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg or home monitoring blood pressure ≥135/85 mmHg, or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure average ≥130/80 mmHg (daytime average ≥135/85 mmHg or nighttime average BP ≥120/70 mmHg).

How does genetic variation affect blood pressure?

Hypertension results from a complex interaction of genes and environmental factors. Numerous common genetic variants with small effects on blood pressure have been identified as well as some rare genetic variants with large effects on blood pressure. Also, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 35 genetic loci related to blood pressure; 12 of these genetic loci influencing blood pressure were newly found. Sentinel SNP for each new genetic locus identified has shown an association with DNA methylation at multiple nearby CpG sites. These sentinel SNP are located within genes related to vascular smooth muscle and renal function. DNA methylation might affect in some way linking common genetic variation to multiple phenotypes even though mechanisms underlying these associations are not understood. Single variant test performed in this study for the 35 sentinel SNP (known and new) showed that genetic variants singly or in aggregate contribute to risk of clinical phenotypes related to high blood pressure.

How many hours apart should blood pressure be for pregnancy?

Hypertension occurs in approximately 8–10% of pregnancies. Two blood pressure measurements six hours apart of greater than 140/90 mm Hg are diagnostic of hypertension in pregnancy. High blood pressure in pregnancy can be classified as pre-existing hypertension, gestational hypertension, or pre-eclampsia.

What causes secondary hypertension?

Other causes of secondary hypertension include obesity, sleep apnea, pregnancy, coarctation of the aorta, excessive eating of liquorice, excessive drinking of alcohol, certain prescription medicines, herbal remedies, and stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine.

How many people died from high blood pressure in 2010?

Deaths. 9.4 million / 18% (2010) Hypertension ( HTN or HT ), also known as high blood pressure ( HBP ), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure typically does not cause symptoms. Long-term high blood pressure, however, is a major risk factor for stroke, ...

What is arterial hypertension?

Hypertension ( HTN or HT ), also known as high blood pressure ( HBP ), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.

Why is my blood pressure high with a cuff?

This condition is believed to be due to calcification of the arteries resulting in abnormally high blood pressure readings with a blood pressure cuff while intra arterial measurements of blood pressure are normal. Orthostatic hypertension is when blood pressure increases upon standing.

What are the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it . Measuring your blood pressure is the only way to know whether you have high blood pressure.

What problems does high blood pressure cause?

High blood pressure can damage your health in many ways. It can seriously hurt important organs like your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.

What can I do to prevent or manage high blood pressure?

Many people with high blood pressure can lower their blood pressure into a healthy range or keep their numbers in a healthy range by making lifestyle changes. Talk with your health care team about

How does high blood pressure affect the heart?

High blood pressure can damage your arteries by making them less elastic, which decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and leads to heart disease. In addition, decreased blood flow to the heart can cause:

What is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure?

The first number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats. If the measurement reads 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, you would say, “120 over 80,” or write, “120/80 mmHg.”.

How can a health care team diagnose high blood pressure?

Your health care team can diagnose high blood pressure and make treatment decisions by reviewing your systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels and comparing them to levels found in certain guidelines.

What is the blood pressure of the heart?

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Your blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day.

Overview

Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms. Long-term high blood pressure, however, is a major risk factor for stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, peripheral arterial disease, vision loss, chr…

Signs and symptoms

Hypertension is rarely accompanied by symptoms, and its identification is usually through screening, or when seeking healthcare for an unrelated problem. Some people with high blood pressure report headaches (particularly at the back of the head and in the morning), as well as lightheadedness, vertigo, tinnitus (buzzing or hissing in the ears), altered vision or fainting episodes. These symptoms, however, might be related to associated anxiety rather than the high blood pre…

Causes

Hypertension results from a complex interaction of genes and environmental factors. Numerous common genetic variants with small effects on blood pressure have been identified as well as some rare genetic variants with large effects on blood pressure. Also, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 35 genetic loci related to blood pressure; 12 of these genetic loci influencing blood pressure were newly found. Sentinel SNP for each new genetic locus identified …

Pathophysiology

In most people with established essential hypertension, increased resistance to blood flow (total peripheral resistance) accounts for the high pressure while cardiac output remains normal. There is evidence that some younger people with prehypertension or 'borderline hypertension' have high cardiac output, an elevated heart rate and normal peripheral resistance, termed hyperkinetic borderline hypertension. These individuals develop the typical features of established essential …

Diagnosis

Hypertension is diagnosed on the basis of a persistently high resting blood pressure. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends at least three resting measurements on at least two separate health care visits. The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension if a clinic blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or higher.

Prevention

Much of the disease burden of high blood pressure is experienced by people who are not labeled as hypertensive. Consequently, population strategies are required to reduce the consequences of high blood pressure and reduce the need for antihypertensive medications. Lifestyle changes are recommended to lower blood pressure, before starting medications. The 2004 British Hypertension Society guidelines proposed lifestyle changes consistent with those outlined by th…

Management

According to one review published in 2003, reduction of the blood pressure by 5 mmHg can decrease the risk of stroke by 34%, of ischemic heart disease by 21%, and reduce the likelihood of dementia, heart failure, and mortality from cardiovascular disease.
Various expert groups have produced guidelines regarding how low the blood pressure target should be when a person is treated for hypertension. These groups recommend a target below t…

Epidemiology

As of 2014 , approximately one billion adults or ~22% of the population of the world have hypertension. It is slightly more frequent in men, in those of low socioeconomic status, and it becomes more common with age. It is common in high, medium, and low income countries. In 2004 rates of high blood pressure were highest in Africa, (30% for both sexes) and lowest in the Americas (18% for both sexes). Rates also vary markedly within regions with rates as low as 3.4…