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Hypertension

Family MedicineTraditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)Geriatrics

Hypertension is a chronic disease characterized by persistently high blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is necessary for the body to function and helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to the tissues of the body. However, sustained high blood pressure can lead to many serious health problems.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hypertension are usually not obvious, and patients may not notice any discomfort even if their blood pressure rises abnormally. It is common for patients to realize that they have high blood pressure only after complications have developed, which is why high blood pressure is often referred to as an "invisible killer". However, patients may experience the following symptoms as a result of high blood pressure:

Headaches
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Tinnitus
Palpitations
Fatigue
Redness of the face
Nosebleeds

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and suspect that you have high blood pressure, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Causes and risk factors

Blood pressure is the pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries when blood is pumped through them as the heart contracts.

Upper Pressure (Systolic Pressure)	The pressure exerted by the blood vessels when the heart contracts and pumps out blood.
Lower pressure (diastolic pressure)	The pressure of blood returning to the ventricle when the heart is relaxed

In more than 90% of cases of hypertension, the cause cannot be clearly identified, a condition known as "primary hypertension". However, there are a number of risk factors that increase the risk of developing hypertension, such as:

Lifestyle habits	Physical inactivity Smoking Lack of sleep
Diet	High salt diet, excessive sodium intake will increase blood pressure Excessive alcohol consumption
Obesity
Stress
Old age
Genes	Immediate family member with hypertension

Treatment

Hypertension can be treated with medication and improved by establishing good lifestyle habits.

Medications
- Doctors will prescribe appropriate anti-hypertensive drugs according to the patient's condition. Currently, commonly used drugs include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiostatin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, calcium ion blockers and diuretics. Patients should take medication at regular intervals according to the doctor's instructions. Generally speaking, the effectiveness of medication is satisfactory.
Establish a good lifestyle
- Patients with hypertension need to adjust their lifestyle by quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, watching what they eat and drink, avoiding excessive salt intake, and engaging in regular physical activities, which can help improve hypertension.

Impact

If hypertension is not properly treated, the blood vessels of major organs may become diseased, leading to serious complications, such as:

Coronary heart disease
arteriosclerosis
Aneurysm
Heart failure
Stroke
Kidney Failure
Retinopathy

Prevention

Prevention of hypertension or close monitoring of prehypertension should start with establishing good lifestyle habits.

Suggestions to help prevent and control hypertension are as follows:

Eat a balanced and low-salt diet
Eat more vegetables and fruits
Stop smoking
Limit alcohol consumption
Exercise: Lack of exercise hardens the walls of blood vessels, making them susceptible to high blood pressure.
Maintain a relaxed state of mind

Early detection of hypertension symptoms and appropriate treatment, as well as control of other risk factors such as blood glucose and blood lipids, can prevent the emergence of hypertension complications.

Elderly people have a reduced sense of taste as they age. They need more flavoring to stimulate their palate and taste the flavors. As a result, they unconsciously increase the intake of salt in their daily diet. Moreover, many processed foods and sauces have added sodium. Therefore, it is recommended to pay attention to food labels and limit sodium intake to less than 2 grams per day.

For an accurate measurement, blood pressure should be taken at about the same time every day in a quiet and comfortable environment. You should not exercise, smoke, eat or drink caffeinated food for 30 minutes before your measurement. Take your blood pressure measurement as slowly as possible after a 5-minute relaxation period to calm your body and mind. After measurement, the blood pressure should be recorded for monitoring purposes and brought to the follow-up appointment for the healthcare provider's reference.

Hypertension can be controlled by medication, but it cannot be cured. Patients need to take long-term medication as prescribed by the doctor to control their condition, maintain their lifestyle and have regular follow-ups.