WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY

World Hypertension Day
World Hypertension Day is a day designated and initiated by The World Hypertension League (WHL), which is itself an umbrella to organizations of 85 national hypertension societies and leagues. The day was initiated to increase the awareness of hypertension. This was especially important because of the lack of appropriate knowledge among hypertensive patients. The WHL launched its first WHD on May 14, 2005. Since 2006, the WHL has been dedicating May 17 of every year as WHD
In 2005, as the inaugural effort, the theme was simply ‘Awareness of high blood pressure’. The 2006 theme was ‘Treat to goal’, with a focus on keeping blood pressure under control. The recommended blood pressures are less than 140/90 mmHg for the general population and for the hypertensive population without any other complications, and less than 130/80 mmHg for those with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease. These are the cut-off values recommended by international and Canadian guidelines. The 2007 WHD theme was ‘Healthy diet, healthy blood pressure’. Through such specific themes, the WHL intends to raise awareness not only of hypertension, but also of factors contributing to an increase in the incidence of hypertension and on ways to prevent it. In an effort to empower the public, the theme for2008 was ‘Measure your blood pressure…at home’. Recent reports confirm the ease, accuracy and safety of blood pressure measurements using home monitors.
High Blood Pressure Overview
The heart pumps blood into the arteries with enough force to push blood to the far reaches of each organ from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet. Blood pressure can be defined as the pressure of blood on the walls of the arteries as it circulates through the body. Blood pressure is highest as its leaves the heart through the aorta and gradually decreases as it enters smaller and smaller blood vessels (arteries, arterioles, and capillaries). Blood returns in the veins leading to the heart, aided by gravity and muscle contraction.

Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. It is known as the "silent killer" since it has no initial symptoms but can lead to long-term disease and complications..
• Many people have high blood pressure and don't know it.
• Important complications of uncontrolled or poorly treated high blood pressure include heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, peripheral artery disease, and aortic aneurysms (weakening of the wall of the aorta, leading to widening or ballooning of the aorta).
• Public awareness of these dangers has increased. High blood pressure has become the second most common reason for medical office visits in the United States.
How is blood pressure measured?
Blood pressure is measured with a blood pressure cuff and recorded as two numbers, for example, 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). Blood pressure measurements are usually taken at the upper arm over the brachial artery.
• The top, larger number is called the systolic pressure. These measures the pressure generated when the heart contracts (pumps). It reflects the pressure of the blood against arterial walls.
• The bottom, smaller number is called the diastolic pressure. This reflects the pressure in the arteries while the heart is filling and resting between heartbeats.

The American Heart Association has recommended guidelines to define normal and high blood pressure.
• Normal blood pressure less than 120/80
• Pre-hypertension 120-139/ 80-89
• High blood pressure (stage 1) 140-159/90-99
• High blood pressure (stage 2) higher than 160/100

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure may be responsible for many cases of death and disability resulting from heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.
• According to research studies, the risk of dying of a heart attack is directly linked to high blood pressure, particularly systolic hypertension. The higher your blood pressure, the higher the risk. Maintaining lifelong control of hypertension decreases the future risk of complications such as heart attack and stroke.
High Blood Pressure Causes
In 90% of people with hypertension, the cause of high blood pressure is not known and is referred to as primary or essential hypertension. While the specific cause is unknown, there are risk factors that can contribute to developing high blood pressure.
Factors that can not be changed
• Age: The older a person is, the greater the likelihood that he or she will develop high blood pressure, especially elevated systolic readings. This is largely due toarteriosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries."
• Race: African Americans develop high blood pressure more often than Caucasians. They develop high blood pressure at a younger age and develop more severe complications sooner in life.
• Socioeconomic status: High blood pressure is found more commonly among the less educated and lower socioeconomic groups. Residents of the southeastern United States, both Caucasian and African American, are more likely to have high blood pressure than residents of other regions.
• Family history (heredity): The tendency to have high blood pressure appears to run in families.
• Gender: Generally men have a greater likelihood of developing high blood pressure than women. This likelihood varies according to age and among various ethnic groups.
Factors that can be changed
• Obesity: As body weight increases, the blood pressure rises. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m�. A BMI of 25-30 kg/m� is considered overweight (BMI=weight in pounds x 703/ height in inches �) Being overweight increases the risk of high blood pressure. Health care practitioners recommend that all obese people with high blood pressure lose weight until they are within 15% of their healthy body weight.

o Obese people are two to six times more likely to develop high blood pressure than people whose weight is within a healthy range.
o Not only the degree of obesity is important, but also the manner in which the body accumulates extra fat. Some people gain weight around their belly (central obesity or "apple-shaped" people), while others store fat around their hips and thighs ("pear-shaped" people). "Apple-shaped" people tend to have greater health risks for high blood pressure than "pear-shaped" people.

• Sodium (salt) sensitivity: Some people have high sensitivity to sodium (salt), and their blood pressure increases if they use salt. Reducing sodium intake tends to lower their blood pressure. Americans consume 10-15 times more sodium than they need. Fast foods and processed foods contain particularly high amounts of sodium. Many over-the-counter medicines also contain large amounts of sodium. Read food labels and learn about salt content in foods and other products as a healthy first step to reducing salt intake. Fast food restaurants also make the salt and calorie content of their food available to consumers at their restaurants,
• Alcohol use: Drinking more than one to two drinks of alcohol per day tends to raise blood pressure in those who are sensitive to alcohol.
• Birth control pills (oral contraceptive use): Some women who take birth control pills develop high blood pressure.
• Lack of exercise (physical inactivity): A sedentary lifestyle contributes to the development of obesity and high blood pressure.
• Medications: Certain drugs, such as amphetamines (stimulants), diet pills, and some medications used for cold and allergy symptoms such aspseudoephedrine, tend to raise blood pressure.
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) affects people of all age groups. Due to pressures of modern lifestyle it has a wide footprint in developed and developing countries. Research shows it spreading around the world at an alarming rate. There are no visible hypertension symptoms in the mild or moderate form of the disease. Thus, it is also known as a silent killer. Its presence goes undetected for years on end in over half of the patients. One good way to lookout for hypertension symptoms is to have regular blood pressure checkup. Adverse secondary hypertension effects are felt on the eyes, heart, brain and the kidneys as a result they can get damaged. Treatment for hypertension should start in its early stage. The causes of hypertension can be diagnosed. There is a range of treatment for hypertension available in various forms ofhypertension medications.
Causes of Hypertension
Fixed causes of hypertension are a mystery to science. Most important causes of hypertension are improper lifestyles and stress. People who feel stressed all the time are primary candidates of hypertension. When pressure builds up inside arteries (muscular tubes that carry blood away from heart) it is known as hypertension. High salt level in blood is among the most common than the right type of causes of hypertension. Hypertension is linked to several factors like age, genetic inheritance, high salt levels in blood, insulinresistance. Blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg leads to hypertension.Hypertension effects are often neglected. If this condition persists, treatment for hypertension is highly advised. Secondary hypertension, not so common, has possible underlying causes. Medicinal side effects, kidney disease, tumors are some of the common causes for this type.
Hypertension Symptoms
There are no visible hypertension symptoms that can be directly linked to primary hypertension in its initial stage. Probable primary hypertension symptoms like bleeding nose, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision can go undetected for years.
Types of Hypertension
Basically there are two types of hypertension. Essential (also called Primary Hypertension) and Secondary hypertension. Majority cases are of essential hypertension type, attributed to poor lifestyles with no fixed causes. Genetics can play an important role in essential hypertension development. Groups suffering from essential hypertension effects have high salt intake. This salt intake is an important factor related to essential hypertension in many cases. Majority of essential hypertension patients have increased resistance in arteries distant from heart. These types of patients suffer from considerable loss in elasticity in small arteries supplying blood. This, in a way, is attributed to high salt intake which is one of the major causes of hypertension.
Treatment for Hypertension
Treatment for hypertension other than hypertension medications are, naturopathy, alternative treatments. Medications play an important role in the treatment for hypertension. These drugs should be taken by consulting a medical practitioner only. An important factor in the treatment for hypertension is diet. Foods low in fat and salt content but rich in fruits, vegetables and grains contribute in alleviating hypertension symptoms. Naturopathic hypertension medications and treatment in both types of hypertension recommends a diet of: green leafy vegetables like celery, whole grains, foods with magnesium, high potassium content such as bananas. Medications, preventive steps, diet changes and changes in one’s lifestyle help a lot in dealing, curing, preventing and limiting various hypertension symptoms.

Compiled from various sources.

Dr.KESIRAJU RAMPRASAD
Educational Psychologist
kesirajuramprasad@gmail.com