Blood Pressure Symptoms (Hypertension): Causes, Readings, Ranges

Blood Pressure Symptoms (Hypertension): Causes, Readings, Ranges

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on Oct 23, 2024 10:33 AM IST

Blood pressure measures the force of your blood against the artery walls. Your heart pumps blood into the arteries with each heartbeat. Maintaining an appropriate blood pressure level is crucial for overall health, as both low (hypotension) and high (hypertension) blood pressure can lead to serious health complications. Blood pressure is an important topic in Biology and they carry a weightage of 2% in NEET and 4% in CBSE and other Paramedical Exams.

This Story also Contains
  1. What is Blood Pressure?
  2. Important facts about Blood Pressure Symptoms
  3. Types of Blood Pressure
  4. How to Prevent or Manage High Blood Pressure?
  5. Types of Questions Asked from Blood Pressure Symptoms
  6. Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Blood Pressure Symptoms

What is Blood Pressure?

The force that blood movement produces on blood vessel walls is known as blood pressure (BP). The heart's action of pumping blood through the circulatory system is primarily responsible for this pressure. The pressure in the major arteries is meant when the word "blood pressure" is used without the qualifier. Some basic points about blood pressure are discussed below:

  • Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of Mercury and is recorded with two numbers that are systolic and diastolic.

  • Normal blood pressure is generally considered around 120/80 mmHg.

  • The reading above this is considered high blood pressure or hypertension while the reading below 90/60 mmHg is considered low blood pressure or hypertension.

  • Blood pressure can be influenced by several factors such as age, weight, diet, physical activities, stress level and also some of the health conditions depending upon the lifestyle.

  • Blood pressure has severe health issues like heart stroke and kidney damage therefore it needs regular monitoring and Management which is essential for maintaining heart health.

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Important facts about Blood Pressure Symptoms

Some important facts about blood pressure are discussed below:

  • The chance of developing heart, brain, kidney, and other disorders is markedly increased by hypertension, often known as raised blood pressure.

  • Worldwide, 1.28 billion persons between the ages of 30 and 79 are projected to have hypertension, with the majority (two-thirds) residing in low- and middle-income nations.

  • Adults with hypertension are reportedly 46% less likely to be aware of their condition.

  • Adults with hypertension are only diagnosed and treated in 42% of cases.

  • Twenty-one per cent of persons who have hypertension have it under control.

  • Around the world, hypertension is a key factor in premature death.

  • One of the global goals for non-communicable illnesses is a 33% decrease in the prevalence of hypertension between 2010 and 2030.

Types of Blood Pressure

Two basic types of blood pressure are discussed below in the table:

Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

  • The condition when blood pressure is less than 90/60 mmHg is known as low blood pressure or hypotension

  • The condition is when the blood pressure against the artery wall is too high.

  • The symptoms are dizziness, blurred vision, weakness, confusion and fainting

  • The symptoms can be asymptomatic, headaches, bleeding difficulty and nosebleeds.

  • This can happen due to dehydration blood loss or some complicated medications

  • This is generally due to obesity, high salt and take and lack of exercise.

  • If not treated well it can lead to severe shock which will make you feel extremely low.

  • If it is not treated well it can lead to severe heart disease such as heart failure or heart stroke. It can also lead to kidney damage.


How to Prevent or Manage High Blood Pressure?

Making lifestyle modifications can help many people with high blood pressure bring their levels into a healthy range or maintain them there. Discuss the importance of engaging in at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week with your medical team:

  • Not smoking

  • Maintaining a balanced diet and abstaining from alcohol and sodium (salt)

  • Maintaining a healthy weight.

  • Controlling stress

Types of Questions Asked from Blood Pressure Symptoms

During exam preparation, different types of questions about the Blood pressure symptoms are asked. The table below contains the different patterns of questions asked in different exams.

Exam Type

Types of Questions Asked

Weightage

CBSE

  • Definition and significance of blood pressure.

  • Factors affecting blood pressure (age, activity level, diet).

  • Difference between systolic and diastolic pressure.

  • Causes and symptoms of hypertension and hypotension.

  • Importance of monitoring blood pressure for cardiovascular health.

3%

NEET

  • Mechanism of blood pressure regulation (role of the heart and blood vessels).

  • Effects of high blood pressure on the cardiovascular system.

  • Interpretation of blood pressure readings (normal, elevated, hypertension).

  • Conditions associated with abnormal blood pressure levels (e.g., arrhythmias, heart disease).

  • Blood pressure measurement techniques and devices.

5%

Paramedical

  • Clinical significance of blood pressure in health assessments.

  • Common medications used to manage hypertension.

  • Lifestyle modifications for maintaining healthy blood pressure.

  • Understanding the complications of untreated hypertension.

  • Blood pressure's relationship with other vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate).

3%


Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Blood Pressure Symptoms

It takes effort to remember everything in a single go. We made the entire problem easy. Some of the tricks regarding Blood pressure symptoms are given below which you can use to memorise the important points.

Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)

"Dizzy Fainting Confusion": DFC

  • D: Dizziness (lightheadedness when standing up)

  • F: Fainting (loss of consciousness due to inadequate blood flow to the brain)

  • C: Confusion (difficulty thinking clearly or mental fog)

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

"Silent Killer Headaches Vision": SHV

  • S: Silent Killer (often asymptomatic; many individuals may not notice symptoms)

  • H: Headaches (often occurring in the morning or during stressful situations)

  • V: Vision Problems (blurred or impaired vision)

General Symptoms for Both Conditions

"Weakness Fatigue Nausea": WFN

  • W: Weakness (general lack of energy)

  • F: Fatigue (persistent tiredness even after adequate rest)

  • N: Nausea (feeling sick or queasy, particularly with severe cases)

Key Points to Remember

"Normal is 120/80": N120

  • N: Normal Reading (understanding that normal blood pressure is generally around 120/80 mmHg)

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What causes high blood pressure?

While the majority of people's causes of high blood pressure are still unknown, inactivity, poor food, obesity, advanced age, and heredity can all be factored into the development of hypertension.

2. What is systolic and diastolic blood pressure?

The blood pressure reading is expressed in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is stated as the sum of the systolic and diastolic pressures, which represent the force of the blood against the artery walls during each pulse. For instance, a blood pressure reading of 120/80 mmHg, also known as "120 over 80," is written. 120 is the systolic and 80 is the diastolic pressure.

3. What is the treatment for high blood pressure?

The key to maintaining normal blood pressure is lifestyle adjustments. In fact, before writing a prescription for a medicine, most doctors will recommend them. The suggested course of therapy for raised blood pressure, which is defined as readings of blood pressure that are frequently over 130/80 and greater than 120 (systolic), or over 80 (diastolic), is also lifestyle adjustment.

4. What type of diet should I follow if I have high blood pressure?

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is a good example of a nutritious diet that can help lower high blood pressure. According to the DASH diet, each day should include a specific amount of servings from a variety of dietary groups, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

5. What organ is affected by blood pressure?

The heart must work harder to pump blood to the body's other organs because of high blood pressure. As a result, the left ventricle, the lower left chamber of the heart, thickens. Heart attacks, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death are among the risks that are increased by a thickened left ventricle.

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