Hi. I'm Dr. Leslie Thomas, a nephrologist at
Mayo Clinic. In this video, we'll cover the basics of
hypertension. What is it? Who gets it? The symptoms, diagnosis,
and treatment. Whether you're
looking for answers for yourself or
someone you love, we're here to give you the best information
available. Hypertension means
high blood pressure. A blood pressure measurement includes two numbers. Those numbers are the
systolic blood pressure and the diastolic
blood pressure. Because of the pumping
action of the heart, the pressure within
the arteries cycles between a higher pressure and a lower pressure. The higher pressure
occurs during the contraction of the
heart's left ventricle. The higher
pressure is known as the systolic
blood pressure. The lower pressure
occurs during the relaxation of the
heart's left ventricle. This lower pressure
is referred to as the diastolic
blood pressure. Who gets it? Hypertension is a
very common condition affecting up to
40% of adults. It is one of the most
common conditions for which medications
are prescribed. Most people with
hypertension have primary hypertension. How primary
hypertension develops is not entirely
understood. However, it has
felt to result from many inherited and
environmental factors that interact in complex ways within the body. Risks for the development of primary hypertension include family history,
advancing age, obesity, high sodium diet, alcohol consumption and
physical inactivity. In cases of
hypertension in which a specific cause
is identified, the term secondary
hypertension is used. Many potential causes of secondary
hypertension exist. These causes include certain prescription or over-the-counter
medications, kidney disease, certain
endocrine disorders, or a significant
narrowing of the aorta or a
kidney artery. What are the symptoms? Rarely, an individual with very high blood pressure
may have symptoms. These symptoms might include shortness
of breath, blurry vision
or headache. How is it diagnosed? Hypertension can be
diagnosed by performing careful and
repeated measures of the blood pressure. Blood pressure categories include normal
blood pressure, defined as a systolic
pressure less than 120, and a diastolic
pressure less than 80. Elevated blood
pressure is defined as a systolic pressure
120 to 129, and a diastolic
pressure less than 80. Hypertension is defined as systolic pressure greater than or
equal to 130, or a diastolic pressure greater than or
equal to 80. How is it treated? Treatment of
hypertension involves lifestyle modification
alone or in combination with
antihypertensive medication therapy. For individuals
with certain common conditions, including
cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus. Certain medications
may be more advantageous to use compared to other
medications. Deciding upon the best blood pressure to target, when to start
antihypertensive medication therapy, and which specific
medication or a combination
of medications to utilize is highly
individualized and informed by
many factors. You and your care team
can work together to create the best
treatment plan for you. No matter what methods
you decide on. There are plenty
of reasons to be optimistic about managing
your hypertension. If you'd like
to learn even more about hypertension, watch our other related
videos or visit Mayo Clinic.org.
We wish you well.
