Hypertension is extremely prevalent, affecting one in three Australian adults. This common condition is a risk factor for a wide range of cardiovascular diseases but can be managed with the right combination of lifestyle changes or blood-pressure lowering medications.
Hypertension is a condition marked by elevated blood pressure. Blood pressure refers to the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as blood is pumped through these vessels by your heart. It is normal for blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day – typically it is higher in the morning and lower at night, but can also respond to events such as exercise or stress.
Normal, healthy blood pressure measurements vary slightly by age and gender. In general, a reading of 120/80mmHg is considered to be normal for adults. You may be diagnosed with hypertension if your blood pressure is consistently higher than 140/90mmHg, with 140mmHg referring to the systolic pressure (when the heart contracts) and 90mmHg is the diastolic pressure (when the heart relaxes between contractions). Only one out of the systolic or diastolic readings need to be high to be considered hypertensive.
Often, no single cause of high blood pressure can be identified. Instead, it is typically a combination of genetics and environmental or lifestyle factors, including:
Hypertension may also be a side effect or a result of another medical condition, such as:
Elevated blood pressure can be a complication of pregnancy, a condition known as pre-eclampsia. Transiently high blood pressure may also be noted in a phenomenon called white coat hypertension, which occurs when blood pressure is high in a doctor’s office but normal when measured elsewhere. 24-hour blood pressure monitoring can help to distinguish white coat hypertension from true hypertension.
The majority of people with high blood pressure do not exhibit hypertension symptoms. Blood pressure is often measured routinely at a GP check-up, or you can monitor your blood pressure at home as part of looking after your own health.
Hypertension symptoms may become apparent if the condition is severe. Symptoms can include:
Symptoms such as fatigue, nausea and vomiting, chest pain, confusion and anxiety are often associated with extremely high blood pressure, known as a hypertensive crisis. This is a medical emergency.
Blood pressure can be measured in your doctor’s office, and returns an immediate result. However, if the reading is high, you may be asked to undertake 24-hour blood pressure monitoring or to check your blood pressure at home to rule out white coat hypertension. You may also need a blood test, electrocardiogram (ECG), or an ultrasound of your kidneys to gain a better understanding of influences on your cardiovascular health.
Hypertension treatment aims to lower your blood pressure and protect you from complications such as heart attack, stroke, eye problems (hypertensive retinopathy), chronic kidney disease, heart failure, and vascular dementia.
Changes to your routines and habits can make a meaningful difference to blood pressure. In cases of mild hypertension, lifestyle modifications may be enough. Your cardiologist can provide personalised advice on how to lower blood pressure without medication, which may include:
Optimising your management of other medical conditions that may contribute to hypertension or exacerbate its effects, such as diabetes, can also help to lower your blood pressure.
For more significant hypertension, blood pressure-lowering medications are necessary, but lifestyle changes can still help to support their effectiveness. Your doctor may recommend one or more antihypertensive medications. Common blood pressure medications include beta blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, and ACE inhibitors.
At Harbourside Cardiology, our team is dedicated to providing holistic, patient-centred care that aligns with the most recent clinical guidelines and research. We are with you every step of your health journey, providing continuity of care of all heart conditions from initial assessment through to treatment and recovery.
