Funom Theophilus Makama

Hypertension - The Silent Killer



Posted: Friday, July 02, 2010

by Funom Theophilus Makama
D Chosen 1

Everyone talks about hypertension. Many individuals, groups, communities, health Organizations and other bodies have shown concern and even written about Hypertension. Statistics shows that approximately 1 billion people worldwide have high blood pressure and this number is expected to increase to 1.56 billion people by the year 2025. That translates to about 1 out of every 4 Adults being afflicted with hypertension. In fact in the United States, recent estimates show that nearly one in three U.S Adults has high blood pressure and because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don't know they have it. Unfortunately, many may have it for years without even knowing. With this alarming statistics, you will not hesitate to agree with me that there is a call for concern for individuals and groups to treat this case with all seriousness.

Hypertension simply means high blood pressure and in Medical terms a blood pressure of 140/90 is considered hypertension; where 140 is the systolic measurement and 90 represents its diastolic measurement. A person with hypertension has no explicit symptoms and that is why more than 30% of Individuals do not eve know they have it, which makes it even more dangerous and considered a Silent Killer. Nevertheless, extremely high blood pressure may lead to some symptoms such as Fatigue, dizziness, confusion (sometimes), Nausea, severe headaches, problems with vision, breathing disorders, irregular heartbeat. And in very severe cases, you can find blood in Urine after Laboratory analysis.

Causes

The causes of hypertension could be classified into;

1. Primary causes. These are the major risk factors of hypertension in which, even the secondary causes emerge from. These are,

• Fast paced lifestyle leading to Unhealthy diets.

• Lack of exercise

• Tobacco smoking

• Obesity

• Physical inactivity

• Alcohol consumption

• Stress

Under this category, we could have a physiological risk factor or cause of hypertension which is Age. An ageing Individual has more risk of getting hypertension than a younger one.

2. Secondary causes. These are causes due to the primary causes, most of which results from Tobaccos smoking and unhealthy diets. They include;

• Coronary heart diseases

• Stroke

• Atherosclerosis

• Arteriosclerosis

• Cancer

• Pneumonia

• Diabetes

• Renal failure

• Tumors

• Birth control pills

• High salt intake

• Injury/trauma

• Adrenal and thyroid problems

• Insufficient calcium potassium and magnesium consumption

• Vitamin D deficiency.

Due to its asymptomatic nature, hypertension cannot be clearly diagnosed unless if severe. Hence, a constant check of blood pressure should be done on a regular basis. Also, the more an individual is aging, the more the frequency of checking. The Sphygmomanometer is used to check for blood pressure. You need not wait until it gets to 140/90 before you conclude you have hypertension. Blood pressure between 120/80 to 139/89 is called pre-hypertension (to indicate an increased risk of hypertension) and if you begin to discover such range in values reoccurring, then you will have to see a Doctor.

Treatment

Basically, drugs are used as well as a gradual change in Lifestyle. The major drugs used for the treatment of hypertension are as follows;

• Diuretics (furosemid, dichlothiazid, spironolacton).

• Inhibitors of Angiotensin converting Enzyme (captopril, enalapril, ramipril).

• Antagonists of angiotensin II receptors. For example Losartan.

• B-adrenoblockers (anaprilin, atenolol, thymolol).

• A-adrenoblockers (Labetolol, Carvedilol).

• A-, B-adrenorblockers (prasosine, terasosine).

• Calcium ions antagonists (niphedipine, amlodipine, Verapamil).

• Agonists of A2-adrenoreceptors of central action (clopheline, methyldopa).

• Sympatholytics (reserpin, Octadin).

• Direct vasodilators (molsidomin, hydralasin).

• Imidasolines (moxonidine, rilmenidine).

• Serotonin receptors blockers, for example Ketanserin.

• Monateril (calcium antagonists, A2-adrenoblockers).

So much drugs for hypertension huh! Do not worry about which drugs to use and how to use them. Leave that to the Doctor.

Prevention and conclusion

It is appalling to know that almost 90% of the causes of hypertension are due to our life style. This simply means, the power to reduce the occurrence of hypertension lies in our hands. Is there any need to list the ways of prevention? Glance through the already aforementioned causes once more and then deduce their direct opposites-and that would be the preventive methods of hypertension. Maintain a healthy Life to not just live or exist but to live well.

He is a Student doctor, successful marketer and Expert Author at the same time. He also advertises through writing and is very active on the internet. Funom Theophilus Makama is well known for his Articles relating to Medicine, spirituality, sexuality, career advice, online money making, traffic generation techniques and many more categories which have direct effect to important aspects of life. And with this, he advertises websites, companies and products through publishing and distribution of articles. For more details click on the link below
http://funom-makama.blogspot.com/

Have a nice time exploring his little world, because you are rest assured not to regret it.
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