Watch your hypertension
High blood pressure commonly affects the circulatory system, particularly the arteries, in which the force of the blood pushing against the arterial wall is consistently too high. A measurement of blood pressure of 140/90 or more is considered high blood pressure.People living with high blood pressure often have no symptoms, even when the blood pressure is extremely high, except a few that might present with headaches, shortness of breath and at times nose bleeding. However, the symptoms are not specific and often signify life-threatening or severe hypertension.
Several factors might increase one's risk of developing hypertension such as age (55 years or older), race (commonly seen in people of African descent), and a positive family history of hypertension has been implicated. Obesity, lack of exercise, stress, excessive alcohol consumption and a lot of salt intake might also place one at an increased risk of developing hypertension. We commonly see women developing hypertension while pregnant.
If left untreated, particularly for a longer period, complications such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney problems and dementia can set in just to mention a few.
Individuals are thus encouraged to regularly have their blood pressure checked by their doctors or healthcare providers to help safeguard against late diagnoses which are often associated with many complications.
The investigative modalities in evaluating hypertensive patients include measuring the blood pressure and doing the electrocardiogram (ECG) to evaluate the heart’s electrical activities. An echocardiogram (heart sonar) might be key in evaluating the anatomical structure of the heart. Blood is often drawn to evaluate kidney function, checking sugar and cholesterol levels as well as a thyroid function test to evaluate the thyroid, to mention just a few.
There is a vast number of different medications that one can use to treat hypertension, often done at the clinician’s discretion. Leading a healthy lifestyle such as eating a healthy balanced diet, exercising, not smoking and cutting down on alcohol consumption can go a long way toward keeping hypertension at bay.
*Dr Makemba Shayela Nelson (MBChB - University of KwaZulu-Natal) is a director at NESHA Medical Practice.
** Opinion pieces and letters by the public do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial team. The editors reserve the right to abridge original texts. All newspapers of Namibia Media Holdings adhere to the Code of Ethics for Namibian Media, a code established jointly with the Media Ombudsman.