Homeopathy 

Hypertension - 2

Hypertension – high blood pressure, is one of the very commonest complaints of this tension-filled world. People are now compelled to face this as a reward for lifestyle changes/tension culture. As it can remain silent and cause irreversible damages to every part of the body over time (especially heart and kidney) which might be fatal in the end, it is really unsafe to neglect it in the initial stages or to let it be untreated. Blood pressure readings above 130/90mmHg certainly need to cared-for and treated. 

Most of the times, hypertension remains silent, damaging all parts of the body. Now that people are conscious about taking yearly master health check-up and approach insurance companies to provide risk insurance for hypertensive people, it has created good awareness and made people detect hypertension in the early stages itself. Also, one needs to be more cautious when hypertensions joins hands with diabetes and high cholesterol levels, since this can move any one slowly to heart attack. So

Never let failures touch your heart
Never let success reach your head
Never let blood pressure (& emotions) hinder your heart and brain.

Incidences – Nowadays, nearly 1/4th of the adult population suffers from pressure variations and 3/4th of them suffer from hypertension. In the case of senior citizens (over the age of 60), more than 60 per cent people suffer from hypertension and its complications. Likewise, 60 per cent of obese persons suffer from hypertension after the age of 40. Also, 40 per cent of the people who suffer from hypertension have hypertension as a familial trait.

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Other than incidences of hypertension in old age, due obesity and & familial trait, researchers’ records reveal that tall people, people of the black race, females after or around menopause, smokers, heavy drinkers and sedentary workers are more prone to hypertension. Persons who suffer from diabetes and high cholesterol are also more vulnerable to high blood pressure and complications. The persistent job tension, lack of sleep, worries, anxiety, tension-filled life, etc., and overeating non-vegetarian food, fatty diet, fast food, smoking, drinking alcohol often provide a ladder to high blood pressure.

After all the incidences and causes have been related scientifically and with experience, when the medicine world sees a cool, relaxed, tension free, teetotaler suffers from hypertension without any family history, there arises a suspicion of a bias or incompletion in our records. Still Nature’s treasure is hidden and seems to be a miracle.

Types – Blood pressure may get increased persistently or temporarily. Temporary increase in blood pressure needs to be cared for with lifestyle changes, whereas persistent rise in blood pressure needs to be treated with medicines. The temporary causes may be 

• Physiological – Sleeplessness, exertion/exercises, pregnancy and delivery can cause temporary increase of blood pressure

• Psychological – emotional tension and stress can temporarily increase blood pressure

The persistent increase in blood pressure may be due to specific reasons or may not be so. They can be classified as two types. They are:

Essential hypertension – Most of the hypertension cases fall in this category. It is otherwise called primary hypertension. This essential hypertesion usually strikes due to unknown causes, affects both sexes and is more correlated to lifestyle changes, body constitution, resistance of blood vessels and is hereditary.

Secondary hypertension - This type of hypertension comes as a secondary or as a compliment to other disorders or disease or drugs, hence the name, “secondary hypertension”. For example – renal arterial stenois, hydronephrosis, renal failure, heart failure, etc.

Common causes – In most hypertension cases, the real cause remains unknown. Hypertension is not supposed to be a disorder of the elderly even though many of the old people commonly suffer from it. It is not a male disorder even though males more commonly suffer from it. It is not supposed to descend only from familial trait even though its incidence is more in particular families. It is also not supposed to be an emotional disorder even though it can be seen in all cases of emotional conflicts (in office or home). Now researchers have identified lots of causes in correlation with occurrence of hypertension. They are:

• Blood - Increased volume, more density, polycythaemia (increased RBC’s), etc. 

• Blood vessels & heart – Diseases of blood vessels - stiff and hardened blood vessels due to depositions (fat), high pumping efficiency of enlarged hypertrophied heart, narrowing (stenosis) or obstruction in renal blood vessels, etc.

• Hormones - Increased secretion of adrenal, pituitary, thyroid and parathyroid glands

• Temperatures – Exposure to extreme temperatures of cold and hot (sunstroke).

• Infections – Pancreatitis, peritonitis, pulmonary oedema, septicemia, etc.

• Diseases – Diabetes, high cholesterol / hyperlipidemia, kidney dysfunctions and infections, stroke, migraine, encephalitis, increase in intra-cranial pressure, etc.

• Drugs – Medicines used for depression, pain, congestion, contraception, etc., may alter blood pressure levels.

• Habits – Sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcohol and addiction to drugs, coffee, tea, more intakes of chips and pickles.

• Mind – Prolonged suffering from stress, tension, anger and emotional conflicts

• Constitution – Obesity

Symptoms – In many a case, it may present itself even without showing a single symptom, since everyone gets accustomed to the slowly developing persistent conditions. So, often people used to identify hypertension in later stages through its complications. But, any sudden change in pressure or very high levels will usually alarm or alert one with symptoms of giddiness or instability.

Usually, every complaint will be cared for automatically by our body (Natural cure - Miracle of Nature). For hypertension also, nature takes care of the body on its own: at best with frequent urination, excessive perspiration and compelling one to take rest to reduce one’s blood pressure. Due to these adjustments between development of high blood pressure and the body’s natural care, blood pressure readings, complaints/symptoms may be fluctuating in the initial stages. If the body’s natural care could not cope with the situation, the persistent high reading of blood pressure follows with its symptoms and complications. The symptoms of high BP are more or less the same as with low BP i.e. hypotension. Sometimes, constant tension/anger at even trivial problems, and sleeplessness may be the first guiding symptoms to get investigated for hypertension. The common symptoms are:

• Fainting or reeling sensation or giddiness 

• Low vitality or weakness or easy fatigability or exhausted feeling

• Irritability and prone to get angry soon

• Profuse sweating

• Frequent urination

• Headache and stiff neck with a sensation of heaviness or fullness

• Lack of concentration with sleepiness or sleeplessness (confusion and drowsiness)

• Palpitation and occasional chest pain

• Shortness of breath/breathlessness

• Tremors and irregular heartbeat

• Bleeding from nose

• Tinnitus or noises in ears

Diagnosis – Fast, full and pounding pulses can give an idea about hypertension. Any way, it can be easily made out with the help of a BP apparatus (sphygmomanometer). But, as blood pressure tends to vary widely with variable physical exertions, physiological nature and psychological causes, it is necessary to confirm it on two or more occasions at different timings before proceeding for treatment. Also, the measurement needs to be analysed while lying, sitting and standing. Further, it is better to evaluate the person on a whole to find or rule out the underlying causative factors with master health check-ups. So one needs to undergo 

• Blood tests for Tc, Dc, Esr, Hb, lipid profile, sugar, creatinine, urea, thyroid hormones (T3, T4, TSH), etc.

• Urine tests for sugar, albumin and deposits 

• X-ray chest, ECG and Echo cardiogram – to analyse the heart chambers, functions, blood flow and its pumping efficiency.

• Finally, ultra sound abdomen scan to rule out involvement of liver and kidney as complication or causative factor.

Can hypertension be prevented? 
Can hypertension be cured?

(To be continued) - Hypertension:  Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

(Disclaimer: The contents of this column are for informational purpose only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of healthcare professional for any health problem or medical condition.)

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Published on Dec 18^th, 2006