Hypertension Clinic

Everybody has, and needs, blood pressure. Without it, blood can't circulate throughout the body. And without circulating blood, vital organs can't get the oxygen and food that they need to work. So it's important to know about blood pressure and how to keep it within a healthy level.

Your heart pumping blood through the arteries puts pressure (tension) on the arterial walls. Hypertension (high blood pressure) occurs when blood pressure stays elevated over time.

The increased pressure of hypertension puts strain on your circulatory system, which can ultimately lead to serious problems such as heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. It is therefore important to detect blood pressure issues before they cause serious damage.

According to many recent studies, the number of adults found to have high blood pressure is increasing rapidly, but because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don't know they have it. Hypertension is often called the "silent killer" because it does not show any symptoms until there is serious physical damage in the body. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, or kidney failure. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked.

Normal blood pressure falls within a range; it's not one set of numbers. Your heart beats about 60 to 80 times a minute under normal conditions. Your blood pressure rises with each heartbeat and falls when your heart relaxes between beats. Your blood pressure can change from minute to minute, with changes in posture, exercise or sleeping, but it should normally be less than 120/80 mm Hg for an adult. The higher (systolic) number represents the pressure while the heart is beating. The lower (diastolic) number represents the pressure when the heart is resting between beats. Blood pressure that stays between 120-139/80-89 is considered prehypertension, and above this level (140/90 mm Hg or higher) is considered high (hypertension). Your doctor may take several readings over time before deciding whether your blood pressure is high.

High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. In fact, many people have this disease for years without knowing it. Having high blood pressure (hypertension) doesn't mean you're tense, nervous or hyperactive. You can be a calm, relaxed person and still have hypertension. The only way to find out if you have this disease is to have your blood pressure checked. A blood pressure test is quick and painless. It can be done in a doctor's office, hospital clinic, company clinic, or at a health camp.

A single high reading doesn't mean you have high blood pressure, but it's a sign that you need to watch your blood pressure carefully. If you have prehypertension, or if you have a family history of high blood pressure, you're at higher risk. Your doctor will tell you how often to have your blood pressure measured.

High blood pressure can occur in children or adults, but it's more common among people over the age of 35. It's particularly prevalent in urban working population, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women taking birth control pills. It may run in families, but many people with a strong family history of high blood pressure never have it. People with diabetes mellitus, gout or kidney disease are more likely to have high blood pressure too.

Once hypertension develops, it usually requires treatment with medication that must be taken every day to prevent damage from high blood pressure. Your doctor can prescribe the right medication for you.