Hypertension Disease

Blood pressure values above 40/90 mmHg are considered hypertension. Hypertension is a disease that leads to complications such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure, and it shortens life expectancy in both men and women.

What is Blood Pressure?

Our heart sends blood, which is essential for the vitality of tissues, to the body through contraction and relaxation movements. During contraction, the blood in the heart chamber is pumped into the arterial system. During relaxation, the heart refills with blood. This process continues periodically. The pressure exerted by the blood on the arterial walls at any given moment is called blood pressure. The pressure during contraction is called systolic pressure (large number), while the pressure during relaxation is called diastolic pressure (small number).

What is Hypertension?

Blood pressure values above 140/90 mmHg are considered hypertension. It is a disease that causes complications such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure, and it shortens life expectancy in both men and women. In approximately 90-95% of hypertension cases, no specific cause can be identified. However, risk factors such as obesity, smoking, poor nutrition, and family history can contribute to its development.

What Are the Symptoms of Hypertension?

Two out of three people with hypertension are unaware of their condition because hypertension may not cause serious symptoms before leading to organ damage. Common symptoms that lead people to seek medical help include headaches, neck pain, a feeling of heat in the head, facial flushing, hot flashes, pressure in the chest, a need for deep breaths, palpitations, chest pain, ringing in the ears, and concentration problems

How Is Hypertension Treated?

The goal of hypertension treatment is to lower blood pressure to normal levels and reduce organ damage caused by high blood pressure. Treatment planning depends on the presence of other diseases accompanying hypertension, cardiovascular risk status, and whether target organ damage has occurred due to hypertension. Effective lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet, reduced salt intake, weight loss, moderate alcohol consumption, increased fruit and vegetable consumption, and more frequent blood pressure monitoring, are essential in the treatment of the disease.

The most significant consequence of untreated hypertension is heart and vascular diseases. Other major consequences of uncontrolled blood pressure include brain hemorrhage and stroke, heart failure and heart attack, kidney failure, and vision loss. If blood pressure remains uncontrolled, it can lead to 51% heart failure, 33% stroke, and 21% deaths from cardiovascular diseases.

Common Misconceptions About Hypertension

Incorrect: "I’m old, so it’s normal for my blood pressure to be above 140/90 mmHg."
- Correct: No, everyone should aim for blood pressure levels below 140/90 mmHg, except for those with chronic kidney failure or diabetes.
Incorrect: "Medications are addictive and lose their effectiveness over time, so it’s better not to use them for long periods."
- Correct: Hypertension medications are not addictive and should be used continuously.
Incorrect: "I stopped taking my medication and my blood pressure is normal now. I don’t need to take medication anymore."
- Correct: Hypertension medications are not addictive and should be used continuously