Arterial Hypertension: Causes and Risk Factors

Arterial Hypertension

Almost everyone (both young and old) has experienced high blood pressure at some point in their life. This can happen for various reasons: heavy physical labor, stress, or weather changes.

What is considered high blood pressure? What does the term "arterial hypertension" encompass? What are the risk factors for developing this disease?

Let's answer each of these questions!

What should normal blood pressure be, and what is arterial hypertension?

First, the following values ​​are considered optimal blood pressure: systolic pressure (or "upper") - less than 120 mmHg, and diastolic pressure (or "lower") - less than 80 mmHg.

There are also other definitions of normal blood pressure: "upper" - less than 130 mmHg, "lower" - less than 85 mmHg. and normal high blood pressure (systolic 130-139 mmHg, diastolic 85-89 mmHg).

Arterial hypertension is an increase in blood pressure to 140/90 mmHg or higher, which should be constant and stable, i.e., confirmed by repeated blood pressure measurements (at least 2-3 times on different days over a period of 4 weeks). However, it's important to pay attention to this and find the cause of such blood pressure fluctuations, as this may only be the first step toward developing the disease.

Arterial hypertension is a rather serious condition, and if left untreated, other organs (the so-called target organs) will also suffer: the heart, kidneys, brain, blood vessels, and the fundus. Certain changes develop gradually in these organs (cardiac muscle hypertrophy, increased creatinine levels in the blood, and damage to the vascular network of the eyes), initially forcing them to operate under conditions of elevated pressure and overload. Subsequently, when compensatory mechanisms are exhausted, complications arise that are very difficult for the body to cope with and can even have fatal consequences (stroke, heart attack, retinal hemorrhages, aortic dissection and rupture).

What are the main risk factors?

Age (men > 55 years, women > 65 years);
High pulse pressure in the elderly (> 60 mmHg) (pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure, and is normally 35-55 mmHg);
Smoking;
Dyslipidemia (an increase in "bad" cholesterol and a decrease in "good" cholesterol in the blood);
Fasting plasma glucose 5.6 – 6.9 mmol/L
Impaired glucose tolerance;
Abdominal obesity (waist circumference > 102 cm in men and > 88 cm in women);
Family history of cardiovascular disease (under 55 years of age for men, under 65 years of age for women).
So, if you have any of the above issues, monitor your blood pressure, make lifestyle changes, and consult a cardiologist for a preventive examination.