Top 10 questions about hypertension

 Hypertension or elevated blood pressure is a very common disease affecting almost 30% of the population of the world. although, it is a very common health problem  there is a lot of misconception regarding facts about hypertension so in this article we will address the top 10 questions about hypertension.

1. What is hypertension?

hypertension is in a simple term elevated blood pressure than normal. blood pressure composes of two numbers higher number and a lower number which is normally around 120/80, if the higher number exceeds 140 or the lower number exceeds 90 or both then you have hypertension.

2. Is headache the most common symptom of hypertension?

although many people think that headache is a distinguishable symptom of elevated blood pressure, this is not exactly true. in some cases with very high blood pressure the patient might feel a headache, palpitation or nosebleeding  and usually late in the course of untreated hypertension but in most cases hypertension does not cause symptoms.

3. Why should i care if i have elevated blood pressure?

well you should care even if you don't have any symptoms because hypertension is a treatable disease but if left untreated it can cause a lot of problems such as heart, kidney, vascular problems and could lead to stroke.

4. Is hypertension curable?

hypertension is treatable by medications and lifestyle modification but it is not curable to the moment.

5. I am taking medications for hypertension and my blood pressures is low now, can i stop the medications?

No, you should consult your physician and he can adjust your doses or change your medication but you SHOULD NOT stop the medications by yourself because this could lead to  spiking of blood pressure. 

6. Is hypertension hereditary?

Yes, 30 to 50% of hypertension cases are hereditary and if you have a parent or a close family member who has elevated blood pressure before the age of 60 this increase your risk of developing hypertension. Fortunately, hypertension is a treatable disease so don't stress about it

7. Does stress cause hypertension?

Yes and no. Although stress can cause spike in blood pressure it is reversible when  stress go way away and it does not usually cause long term hypertension.

8. What lifestyle modification can i do to control elevated blood pressure?

There are plenty of things you can do which not only improve your blood pressure but your general health condition as well such as moderate excercising for 30 minutes everyday like walking or swimming, lowering the salt in your food, stopping smoking, limiting alcohol, eating low fat food, increasing intake of fresh vegetables and fruits such as strawberries and blueberries. REMEMBER, lifestyle modifications are an essential part of the treatment.

9. What are the medications for hypertension?

There are a lot of medications that the doctor can prescribe to you according to your condition and other risk factors such ACEI, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics and potassium sparing diuretics.

10. Can hypertension cause erectile dysfunction?

Yes, hypertension is a risk factor for developing erectile dysfunction. Fortunately, it is reversible if blood pressure is well controlled.