High blood pressure - Hypertension

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is one of the most common medical problems. This is a serious medical condition when the blood pressure in your arteries rises and your heart is forced  to work harder than normal to pump blood through the blood vessels. This can lead to a variety of health problems. If your blood pressure is higher than 140/90 mm Hg, you are at higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The disease is rapidly progressing, and to control it you should immediately consult a doctor. Arterial hypertension affects 30-45% of the adult population. For both men and women high blood pressure is a serious issue.

The causes of arterial hypertension are not so clear even today. A number of individuals suffer from this disease due to the genetic predisposition to hypertension. In addition to heredity, there are other risk factors for the arterial hypertension. Its risk increases as you age. Our small blood vessels become narrower over time, and blood flow in them becomes more complicated. While maintaining normal blood pressure, the load on the vascular walls increases, and the heart has to make more efforts to ensure full blood flow throughout the body. As a result, a person has an increased blood pressure and feels unwell. This problem is observed in patients of any gender from 55 years of age and older. Other reasons include the following:

• Metabolic disorders
• Lack of activity
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Stress
• Smoking

Arterial hypertension is a big problem as it is often asymptomatic. Even having high blood pressure the patient can feel good. The main signs of hypertension are the following:

• Headaches
• Heart palpitations
• Swelling
• Attacks of anxiety and irritability
• Nausea
• Visual impairment

Reguar blood pressure monitoring at home should be incorporated into our daily routines. In addition, the following tests should be performed in all patients with arterial hypertension: 

• Blood and urine tests
• Electrocardiogram
• Echocardiography
• Ultrasound of the kidneys and heart
• Chest x-ray

To prevent high blood pressure, it's necessary to have healthy habits. If you want to avoid this disease, you should live a healthy lifestyle and follow these tips:

• Keep your weight healthy
• Eat a balanced diet
• Reduce your daily salt intake
• Exercise regularly
• Limit the amount of alcohol and quit smoking
• Monitor your blood pressure and see your doctor regularly

Arterial hypertension, as a matter of fact, can lead to various complications, including ischemic attacks, stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, chronic renal failure, decreased visual acuity, etc. However, all these complications can be avoided if blood pressure is maintained at a normal level, and the patient follows the doctor's recommendations and, if necessary, constantly takes medications. 

In fact, high blood pressure is much easier to prevent than to cure. That is why it is important to undergo annual medical examinations. Regular health check-ups are essential for both men and women, as they allow to get the diagnosis and reveal disorders at the early stages. A physical exam is your chance to stay healthy and happy. Learn more about Cardiac Exam and other Health Screening Tests available with UA Destination in Kyiv, Ukraine.