Know Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
High blood pressure or hypertension is a chronic condition in which blood pressure increases. This condition can occur for years without the sufferer realizing it.
In fact, even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and the heart continues and can be detected.
Uncontrolled hypertension can increase the risk of various health problems, such as heart attack and stroke.
If you have a history of this disease, know that there are several types, namely:
1. Primary Hypertension
Primary hypertension is a condition where there is an increase in blood pressure without any other underlying disease.
2. Secondary Hypertension
Secondary hypertension is a condition where there is an increase in blood pressure with a history of other underlying diseases.
Examples of other diseases that can increase hypertension are kidney disease, endocrine disorders, vascular disorders, and side effects of drug use.
3. Gestational Hypertension
Gestational hypertension is a condition where blood pressure rises for the first time during pregnancy. In addition, in pregnant women there is no protein in the urine.
Gestational hypertension will disappear within 3 months postpartum.
Symptom
High blood pressure often causes no symptoms. However, some people with very high blood pressure may have the following characteristics:
- Headache
- Nosebleed
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
However, the symptoms of hypertension are not specific and only appear if the blood pressure is too high and life-threatening.
Reason
The causes of high blood pressure can be seen by type, namely:
1. Primary Hypertension
Primary hypertension attacks 90 percent of people with hypertension. The cause is not known with certainty and tends to occur gradually over years.
Lifestyle and genetic factors are thought to play an important role.
2. Secondary Hypertension
Hypertension with a known cause occurs in 5-10 percent of people with hypertension.
Usually, this condition appears suddenly and causes higher blood pressure than primary hypertension.
Some conditions and medications that can cause this type of hypertension include sleep apnea, kidney problems, adrenal gland tumors, thyroid problems, congenital defects in blood vessels, and certain medications (birth control pills, cold medicines, pain medications).
3. Gestational Hypertension
Meanwhile, the cause of gestational hypertension is unknown.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for hypertension can vary greatly and are related to the type of hypertension experienced.
In primary hypertension, risk factors are related to genetics to a high-salt diet which can trigger an increase in blood pressure.
Secondary hypertension is very closely related to the main disease that underlies the increase in blood pressure.
The factors that increase the risk of gestational hypertension, for example:
- Pregnant before the age of 20; or even over the age of 40 years
- First pregnancy
- Pregnant twins
- Mother is a diabetic
- Have a history of kidney disease
- There is a history of high blood pressure before pregnancy or in previous pregnancies
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of hypertension can be done by using a blood pressure meter.
Blood pressure measurements are divided into four general categories, namely:
- Normal blood pressure. Blood pressure is said to be normal if it is below 120/80 mmHg
- Prehypertension is systolic pressure which ranges from 120-139 mmHg, or diastolic blood pressure which ranges from 80-89 mmHg. Prehypertension tends to get worse over time
- Stage 1 hypertension is a systolic pressure ranging from 140-159 mm Hg, or a diastolic pressure ranging from 90-99 mm Hg
- Stage two hypertension is classified as more severe. Stage 2 hypertension is a systolic pressure of 160 mmHg or higher or a diastolic pressure of 100 mm Hg or higher
Your doctor may take 2-3 blood pressure readings, each at 3 or more separate appointments before diagnosing you with hypertension.
This is because blood pressure usually varies throughout the day.
In addition, your doctor may ask you to record your blood pressure at home and at work as additional information.
Treatment
The main way to deal with hypertension is lifestyle modification. A healthy lifestyle that can be applied, includes:
- Reducing salt intake
- Regular exercise
- Lose weight
- Quit smoking
New drugs are given if there is no change after lifestyle modifications.
Several types of antihypertensive drugs that doctors can recommend are:
- ACE-inhibitor class drugs, such as captopril, lisinopril, ramipril
- beta-blockers, eg bisoprolol, propranolol
- Thiazides, such as hydrochlorothiazide
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers, such as candesartan, valsartan
- Calcium channel blockers, eg amlodipine, nifedipine
- Diuretics, such as furosemide
All of these drugs function to lower high blood pressure in different ways of working.
The indications for administering the drug also vary according to age, degree of hypertension, and other underlying diseases.
Initially, the doctor will give one type of hypertension drug with the lowest dose, then be observed for some time.
If it is not effective, the doctor will increase the dose of the drug or add it to another antihypertensive drug.
Prevention
Some ways to prevent hypertension are:
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle
- Avoid foods that are high in salt or sodium
- Exercising regularly
- Maintain ideal body weight
- Quit smoking
- As well as possible manage other diseases that can increase the risk of high blood pressure.
Complications
High blood pressure that is not handled properly can attack various organs, including the kidneys, eyes, and brain, like a stroke.
These complications can cause loss of consciousness to death.
When to See a Doctor?
When you have tried your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle but blood pressure is not well controlled, it is highly recommended to see a doctor immediately.