Blood Pressure Clinic

What is High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps it around the body. It is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). It is written as two numbers, with the systolic pressure (the higher number) being the measure of the force of the blood as the heart beats and the diastolic pressure (the lower number) being the measure of the force of the blood as the heart is at rest between beats. 

A normal blood pressure reading is around 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher.

How Does High Blood Pressure Affect You?

High blood pressure makes it harder for your heart to pump blood through your body. When high blood pressure goes untreated, it can cause damage to your body's blood vessels. This can start with your fine arteries but then lead to damage to all arteries and veins. The damaged blood vessels can become malformed, harden and leak.

Loss of vascular efficiency and the formation of blood clots can give rise to the following:

  • Heart disease: High blood pressure can cause hardening and thickening of the arteries, making it more difficult for blood to flow through them. This can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
  • Kidney damage: The kidneys filter waste products from the blood, and high blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to kidney failure.
  • Eye damage: High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the eyes, leading to vision loss.
  • Brain damage: High blood pressure can cause small strokes, leading to cognitive decline and dementia.
  • Sexual dysfunction: High blood pressure can also affect sexual function in men and women.

Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, can cause lightheadedness, fainting, and fatigue.

Blood Pressure Readings

Based on the reading, blood pressure is classified into the following categories:

  • Normal blood pressure: Systolic pressure less than 120 mmHg and diastolic pressure less than 80 mmHg.
  • Prehypertension: Systolic pressure between 120 mmHg and 139 mmHg or diastolic pressure between 80 mmHg and 89 mmHg
  • Hypertensive crisis: Systolic pressure 180 mmHg or higher or diastolic pressure 120 mmHg or higher
  • Stage 1 hypertension: systolic pressure between 140 mmHg and 159 mmHg or diastolic pressure between 90 mmHg and 99 mmHg
  • Stage 2 hypertension: systolic pressure 160 mmHg or higher or diastolic pressure 100 mmHg or higher

Blood pressure can fluctuate, and a single reading does not necessarily indicate a diagnosis of hypertension. A diagnosis is typically made after multiple high tasks over time.

Who Is Affected By High Blood Pressure?

32% of Australians over 18 have a systolic reading of 140 mm Hg or higher.

What Are the Causes of High Blood Pressure?

The exact cause of high blood pressure (hypertension) is often not known, but several factors can contribute to its development, including:

  • Older age
  • Family history
  • Ethnicity
  • Being overweight or obesity
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Poor diet
  • Smoking
  • Chronic stress
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, and sleep apnea

Regular check-ups with your doctor and lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight, can help to prevent and control hypertension.

What are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure (hypertension) is often referred to as the "silent killer" because it typically does not cause any symptoms. In most cases, it is only detected through regular blood pressure screenings. However, in some cases, severe or uncontrolled hypertension may cause the following symptoms:

  • Headaches
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea
  • Blurred vision accompanied by other symptoms such as headache or nausea.
  • Nosebleeds

These symptoms can also be caused by other conditions and do not necessarily indicate that a person has high blood pressure. If you experience these symptoms, you must speak with a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause. Regular blood pressure screenings can help to detect hypertension early and prevent the development of serious complications.

Diagnosis of High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is typically diagnosed through regular blood pressure screenings. When you visit our doctors, they routinely measure your blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer. During a blood pressure screening, the following steps are typically taken:

  • The person being screened sits down with their back supported and their arm at heart level.
  • A cuff inflates around the person's arm to measure their systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) blood pressure readings.
  • The doctor records the systolic and diastolic readings, measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

A single blood pressure reading is not always enough to diagnose hypertension. A person's blood pressure is measured multiple times to confirm a diagnosis. Sometimes, a healthcare provider may recommend a 24-hour monitoring test to get a more accurate picture of a person's blood pressure.

Treatment Choices for High Blood Pressure

There are several treatment pathways to either reduce or manage high blood pressure. It depends on several factors, including the severity of the condition, other health conditions a person may have, and a person's age and lifestyle. Our doctors can advise you on what they recommend suits you best.

  • Lifestyle changes: Making lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, reducing salt intake, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and managing stress, can help to lower blood pressure and prevent the development of hypertension.
  • Medications: Several medications are available to treat hypertension, including diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and others. The type of medication used will depend on a person's specific needs and medical history.
  • Combination therapy: In some cases, lifestyle changes and medications may be necessary to control blood pressure effectively.
  • Monitoring: Regular blood pressure monitoring is essential to ensure that treatment is effective and make any necessary adjustments to medication or lifestyle changes.

Lifestyle Changes

  • Physical exercise - Aerobic activity for 20–30 minutes five days a week improves cardiovascular health. If injured, pursuing an activity that avoids the injured muscle group or joint can help maintain physical function while recovering.
  • Stress management - Pursuing an enjoyable activity or verbalising frustration to reduce stress and improve mental health.
  • Quitting smoking - Quitting smoking tobacco.
  • Home blood pressure monitors - Regular blood pressure monitoring can help diagnose high blood pressure.
  • Weight Loss - reducing excess weight can lower blood pressure.
  • Low sodium diet - A diet that restricts salt (sodium chloride) and other forms of sodium to no more than 1,500 to 2,400 mg per day.

Medications

  • ACE inhibitor - Relaxes blood vessels, lowers blood pressure and prevents diabetes-related kidney damage.
  • Diuretic - Increases urine production to get rid of excess salt and water.
  • Beta-blocker - Slows heart rate and decreases blood pressure. When taken in eye-drop form, it reduces eye pressure.
  • Antihypertensive drug - Lowers blood pressure.
  • Calcium channel blocker - Relaxes blood vessels.
  • Vasodilator - Widens blood vessels.

What if High Blood Pressure is Untreated?

If high blood pressure is left untreated, it can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening complications. Working with your doctor to develop an individualised treatment plan for hypertension is essential. Treatment is most effective when tailored to a person's needs and health status. Adhering to a treatment plan and making lifestyle changes can help prevent serious complications, such as heart disease and stroke.

Ischaemic Heart Disease

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a condition in which the blood supply to the heart muscle is reduced or blocked, usually due to plaque buildup in the coronary arteries. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a significant risk factor for developing IHD, as it can increase the workload on the heart and cause damage to the blood vessels, including the coronary arteries.

When blood pressure is elevated, the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the blood vessels. Over time, this increased workload can cause the blood vessels to narrow or become blocked, reducing the blood flow to the heart muscle. This decreased blood flow can lead to angina (chest pain), heart attack, and other forms of IHD.

Treating hypertension is essential to reduce the risk of developing IHD and other complications. This may involve lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, reducing salt intake, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, managing stress, and taking medication to lower blood pressure. Regular blood pressure monitoring is also vital to ensure that treatment is effective and to make any necessary adjustments to medication or lifestyle changes.

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