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Blood pressure, high Considerations:
About 1 in every 5 adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure occurs more often in men than in women and in African Americans almost twice as often as in Caucasians.
Hypertension can affect all types of people. Most people feel no symptoms with uncomplicated high blood pressure. Essential hypertension (hypertension with no known cause) is not fully understood but accounts for about 85% of all hypertension cases in people over 45 years of age.
Even though many high blood pressure cases do not have a known cause, the condition can still be treated effectively. There are dozens of different medications available for the management of high blood pressure.
Common Causes:
- medications (such as appetite suppressants)
- habitual alcohol use
- excess sodium (salt) in diet
- obesity
- anxiety or stress
- arteriosclerosis
- agitation
- coarctation of the aorta
- immobilization
- pain
- acute tubular necrosis
- hemolytic-uremic syndrome
- Henoch-Schonlein purpura
- periarteritis nodosa
- radiation enteritis
- renal artery stenosis
- retroperitoneal fibrosis
- fibromuscular dysplasia
- Wilms' tumor
- hydronephrosis
- renal aphasia
- renal vein thrombosis
- renal artery embolism
- renal artery occlusion
- glomerulonephritis (see individual types)
- amyloidosis
- diabetes mellitus
- gout
- nephrolithiasis
- idiopathic neuropathy
- obstructive uropathy (see individual diseases)
- drugs such as alcohol toxicity , anesthesia, antianxiety agents, antihypertensives, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, general anesthetics, antiarrhythmics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, narcotic analgesics , tranquilizers, and vasodilators
Note: There may be other causes of high blood pressure. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for high blood pressure, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.
Home Care:
Unless the blood pressure reading is above 145/90 mmHg, hypertension drugs may not be prescribed by the health care provider.
For high blood pressure caused by essential hypertension , a proper diet, weight loss , exercise , and salt and alcohol reduction are often recommended. If these measures do not work, talk to your health care provider about taking medication to lower blood pressure.
For high blood pressure caused by medication, consult with your health care provider about changing or discontinuing drugs. DO NOT CHANGE YOUR MEDICATION WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
Call Your Healthcare Provider If:
- there is unexplained and persistent high blood pressure. Blood pressure should be monitored routinely for adults over the age of 40 or who have risk factors such as obesity , smoking , drinking, or a family history of hypertension .
What to Expect:
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting high blood pressure in detail may include: - time pattern
- Has the blood pressure increased recently?
- Did it suddenly become high?
- quality
- What is the blood pressure?
- When the blood pressure is measured on multiple occasions, what is the average diastolic BP (the lower number)?
- How much has the blood pressure gone up within the past two weeks?
- What is the blood pressure now?
- What was the previous blood pressure?
- other
- What other symptoms are present?
The physical examination will include checking the blood pressure as well as a thorough general examination. The blood pressure may need to be monitored several times over a period of weeks or months.
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include: After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to high blood pressure to your personal medical record.
A sphygmomanometer is used to measure blood pressure, and is the most accurate method. Blood pressure is measured against the height of a column of mercury. This is the most accurate method because it can only be made inaccurate by changing the gravitational constant of the earth.
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