Hypertension / High Blood Pressure

What is Hypertension/High Blood Pressure?

Your blood pressure reading is measured by considering how much blood is moving through your blood vessels and the amount of resistance there is when it enters the blood vessels.

The heartbeat has two stages known as systole and diastole. The systole stage is when your heart muscle is actively pumping blood out to the body via your blood vessels. The diastole stage is when the heart is resting. A normal blood pressure reading is considered as 120 (systole) over 80 (diastole).

When your blood pressure is high, it means that your heart is working harder than it should to pump blood to your vital organs and the rest of your body. Blood is a crucial lifeforce which is responsible for transporting oxygen and other important nutrients to your body, keeping it alive and well.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

• Early morning headaches,
• Nosebleeds,
• Irregular heart rhythms,
• Vision changes,
• and buzzing in the ears.

Severe hypertension can cause:

• Fatigue,
• Nausea,
• Vomiting,
• Confusion,
• Anxiety,
• Chest pain,
• and muscle tremors.

If left untreated, chronic hypertension can lead to several serious secondary issues including hardening of the arteries, a higher risk of stroke, kidney disease, and heart failure to name a few.

Parkhealth Medical – Family Health Doctors in Cape Town

Hypertension is considered a silent disease and often symptoms go unnoticed. Regular checkups ensure that you remain aware of your blood pressure, giving you the opportunity to prevent any serious health concerns.

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