What is Hypertension?
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a clinical condition defined by the sustained, excessive force that circulating blood exerts on the walls of the body’s arteries. This persistent elevation requires the heart muscle to work much harder than normal with every beat, placing a continual strain on the entire cardiovascular system. The condition is measured and monitored using two distinct pressure readings.
The first value, systolic pressure, quantifies the peak force generated inside the arteries at the moment the heart contracts to push blood out. The second value, diastolic pressure, indicates the amount of background pressure that remains in the arteries while the heart is briefly at rest between beats. Medical guidelines use these readings to classify blood pressure into categories, such as normal, elevated, and various stages of hypertension, which reflect the degree of severity.
Causes:- Increased Blood Volume from Fluid Retention: The body's fluid levels are tightly regulated by the kidneys through a balance of sodium and water. When the body holds onto excess sodium, it also retains more water to dilute it. This surplus fluid expands the total volume of blood circulating within the fixed space of the blood vessels, which directly elevates the pressure exerted on their walls.
- Increased Resistance from Blood Vessels: Healthy arteries are flexible and can widen to accommodate blood flow. Over time, arteries can become more rigid and less elastic, or their inner diameter can be reduced by the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque. This stiffness and narrowing creates greater resistance, forcing the heart to pump with more power to push the same amount of blood through a less compliant system.
- Dysregulation of Vascular-Controlling Hormones: The body uses specific hormonal systems to manage blood pressure by signaling blood vessels to either constrict (tighten) or dilate (relax). An imbalance in these systems, particularly the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, can lead to a chronically constricted state where the arteries remain too narrow, thereby sustaining high pressure.
- Individuals of African Heritage: For reasons that are complex and involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors, high blood pressure tends to develop earlier in life and is often more severe in people of African descent.
- A Pattern of High Sodium Consumption: A diet that consistently includes high levels of sodium, most often found in processed foods and restaurant meals, is a powerful risk factor. Such a dietary pattern directly interferes with the body's ability to manage its fluid balance.
- Those with a Sedentary Routine: A lifestyle lacking in regular physical activity is a significant contributor. The absence of consistent aerobic exercise means the heart and blood vessels do not receive the conditioning needed to maintain their strength and flexibility.
- Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Regularly consuming alcohol beyond moderate amounts directly elevates risk. Heavy intake contributes to weight gain and has immediate physiological effects that can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels over time.
- A Family Pattern of Hypertension: If high blood pressure is common among your close biological relatives, it points to an inherited susceptibility. This genetic predisposition can make a person more vulnerable to developing the condition themselves.
