Doctor, Tell Me About High Blood Pressure
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “Doctor, I’m curious to know about hypertension. Can you please tell me?”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “Certainly. Hypertension is commonly known as high blood pressure. It is a medical condition where the force of the blood against your blood vessel walls is too high.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “What is the normal blood pressure?”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “Blood pressure is usually measured by two numbers: the systolic pressure, which is the pressure when your heart beats and pumps blood, and the diastolic pressure, which is the pressure when your heart is at rest between beats. A blood pressure reading above 130/80 mmHg is generally considered high.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “What happens in our body due to this high blood pressure?”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “Uncontrolled high blood pressure can result in many serious health issues. It increases the risk of heart disease, including heart attacks and heart failure. It can also cause strokes, kidney disease, and peripheral arterial disease. In addition, high blood pressure can lead to vision loss due to damage to the blood vessels of the retina.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “That’s a lot of problems. I want to understand how high blood pressure causes such organ damage. Can you please explain?”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “Sure. Hypertension damages organs primarily through increased workload and higher pressure in your blood vessels. Over time, the increased pressure can cause the walls of your arteries to become thick and narrow, reducing blood flow to your vital organs. This reduced blood flow leads to organ damage, as the tissues receive less oxygen and nutrients than they need.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “Can very high blood pressure tear or burst the blood vessels?”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “Yes, the force of the high pressure can cause microscopic tears in the artery walls, where plaques can form and further reduce blood flow. Moreover, sometimes, due to very high pressure, the blood vessels may burst out and cause hemorrhage, especially in the brain.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “I’ve read somewhere that hypertension is only a concern for older people. Is that true?”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “Actually, that’s a common myth. Hypertension can affect people of all ages, including young children. Lifestyle factors, genetics, and certain health conditions can contribute to its development, at any age.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “How do I know if my high blood pressure is temporary due to some stress or long-standing?”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “Temporary increases in blood pressure due to stress or other factors are known as situational or white-coat hypertension. To differentiate this from long-standing hypertension, we typically recommend monitoring your blood pressure at different times and in different settings. Home blood pressure monitoring or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring can help in understanding whether your high blood pressure is persistent or related to specific situations.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “So, itโs not just about age? What about salt? I hear that if I stop eating salt completely, I don’t have to worry about high blood pressure.”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “Reducing salt intake can help manage blood pressure, but that’s not the only factor. Hypertension is multifactorial. It involves your overall diet, physical activity, weight, smoking, alcohol consumption, and stress levels. Completely cutting out salt is not necessary.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “I’ve been taking medications for years. My BP was well controlled during the last visit too. Does this mean I’m cured and can stop taking my medicines?”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “It’s important to understand that hypertension is usually a long-term condition. While medication can manage your blood pressure, the are no medicines to cure the condition. You should continue taking your medication as prescribed and regularly monitor your blood pressure, unless advised otherwise by a doctor.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “Is it true that if you don’t feel any symptoms, you don’t have hypertension?”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “That’s another myth. Hypertension is often called the ‘silent killer’ because many people don’t experience any symptoms even when their blood pressure is high. Regular check-ups are essential for early detection and management.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “I heard exercise can replace medications for hypertension. Is that correct?”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “Exercise is an important part of managing high blood pressure, but it usually cannot replace medication for those who need it. Think of medication and lifestyle changes like exercise and diet as complementary to each other, both are important.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “What’s the best way to prevent or manage hypertension?”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “The best approach is a combination of regular physical activity, a balanced diet low in sodium and high in fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and managing stress. Also, adhere to any medical treatment prescribed by your doctor.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “A friend told me that medicines used to treat hypertension can cause kidney failure. Is that correct?”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “That’s a concern I hear often, but it’s not quite accurate. In fact, the medications used to treat hypertension are protective against kidney damage, which is a complication of uncontrolled high blood pressure. Some kidney-protective blood pressure medications can affect kidney function, which is why we monitor your kidney function tests when you’re on these medications. It’s crucial to follow prescribed treatments and regularly check your kidney health to ensure that the medication is having the intended effect.”
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: “Thank you, Doctor.”
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: “You’re welcome! Remember, managing hypertension is a lifelong commitment.”
This article is part of theย Honest Conversationsย series: Explore the articles from this series:
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- Doctor, Tell Me About High Blood Pressure
- Doctor, I Searched My Symptoms on Google!
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- Doctor, Are Vaccines Really Safe?
- Doctor, I Have Abdominal Bloating
- Doctor, Are Generic Medicines Really Safe?
- Doctor, Can I Do Blood Tests in Any Lab?
- Doctor, Can I Stop The Medicines Now?
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- Doctor, Can You Guarantee A Cure?
- Honest Conversations in Healthcare – A Series
Dr Shashikiran Umakanth (MBBS, MD, FRCP Edin.) is Professor & Head of Internal Medicine at Dr TMA Pai Hospital, Udupi, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India. He shares his insights on Medicine, Health and Life here.
