What is Hypertension?
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. Blood pressure is defined by two measurements, systolic and diastolic. Normal blood pressure at rest is within the range of 100-140 mmHg systolic (top reading) and 60-90 mmHg diastolic (bottom reading). High blood pressure is said to be present if it is often at or above 140/90 mmHg.
What are the causes of hypertension?
Hypertension may be classified by cause as either primary (essential) hypertension or secondary hypertension; about 90-95 percent of cases are categorised as primary hypertension which means high blood pressure of no known cause. The remaining 5-10 percent of cases categorised as secondary hypertension and has an identifiable cause. The causes may include kidney diseases, endocrine diseases, drugs, sleep disorders and cardiac diseases.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels.
Although a few people with early stage high blood pressure may have dull headaches, dizzy spells or a few more nosebleeds than normal, these signs and symptoms usually don’t occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage.
So it is better that all people get their blood pressures checked atleast once in a couple of years.
What are the problems associated with very high blood pressures?
Very high blood pressures are dangerous as it causes damage to a large number of organs in the body. Uncontrolled blood pressure causes:
- Stroke and paralysis
- Kidney failure leading to dialysis and transplantation
- Eye changes and bleeding
- Heat disease and heart failure
- So it is mandatory that BP is very well controlled
What is a Hypertension clinic?
Hypertension clinic is a concept which integrates the vital branches of medicine dealing with hypertension. It is a team consisting of the Physician, Nephrologist, Cardiologist, Ophthalmologist, Neurologist and dietician.
What does this clinic do?
Whether you are a newly diagnosed hypertensive patient or a long standing patient, this clinic will help you in choosing the ideal drugs and dosages for you. The clinic will also help in ruling out secondary causes and in diagnosing falsely elevated blood pressures especially white coat hypertension. We also have an Ambulatory blood pressure monitor which will help in assessing the adequacy of the current regimen and will help in identifying early morning surges etc. In short this is a one stop shop for all things dealing with hypertension.