Different Causes of Secondary Hypertension
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on November 15, 2011
Studies show that approximately 10% of hypertension cases are caused by other diseases. This is called secondary hypertension. In most cases of secondary hypertension, when the main cause of the disease is treated, the blood pressure returns to normal. Secondary hypertension is normally caused by the following:
o Chronic kidney failure
o Adrenal gland diseases or tumors
o Narrowing of the aorta
o Pregnancy
o Use of contraceptives (pills)
o Addiction to alcohol
o Thyroid problems
On the other hand, 90% of hypertension cases do not have a known cause and this is referred to as primary hypertension. Unlike secondary hypertension, primary hypertension does not have a specific cause. However, there are several factors that may lead to high blood pressure. These are the following:
o Obesity – This is a condition wherein a person’s weight is over 30% of what it should normally be. Obese people are advised to lose weight by exercising and maintaining a balanced diet. It is recommended that an obese person should lose weight until he or she is within 15% of the normal body weight.
o Inactivity – This is normally the cause of obesity that leads to hypertension.
o Heredity – The tendency of having high blood pressure also runs in the genes. If you have a relative or a family member that has hypertension, you are a potential candidate to have it as well.
o Age – Older people are more prone to hypertension because their arteries get harder over time. This is called arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
o Salt intake – Too much intake of salt can cause hypertension especially in people who have high sensitivity to sodium. An average person consumes at least 10 to 15 times more salt when eating fast foods or processed foods. Also, medicines like painkillers contain high amount of sodium that also cause high blood pressure.
o Alcohol intake – People who are sensitive to alcohol are more likely to have hypertension if they take more than 1 drink a day. This is because alcohol tends to increase the blood pressure.
o Use of contraceptives like pills – Birth control pills contains properties that increase blood pressure.
o Drugs – Stimulants like amphetamines, dietary pills and anti-allergy pills can also cause hypertension.
Consideration of the above factors can prevent both primary and secondary hypertension. Regular exercise and diet plus regular monitoring of your blood pressure are basically the most effective ways of preventing and treating hypertension. To obtain more information about ways to prevent and treat hypertension, it is best that you consult your physician.
Tags: adrenal gland diseases, chronic kidney failure, contraceptives pills, narrowing of the aorta, secondary hypertensionRelated posts
Basics Of Hypertension
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on November 15, 2011
In case of hypertension a person’s blood pressure is considered to be above normal in the arteries. High blood pressure is also called as hypertension. Hypertension can defined into two types. They are primary and secondary hypertension. The cause of the excess pressure in unknown in case of primary hypertension.
But there is some cause for secondary high pressure. Major organs like kidney and heart are affected by this type. In case of chronic hypertension then it may lead to problems like heart attack and stroke. Medicines do help in someway to reduce the impact of hypertension. But changing the way a person eat and the way he lives can help to get rid of hypertension.
Hypertension Kinds
High pressure is identified on the basis of systole and diastolic blood pressures. Diastolic pressure is recorded when the heart expands, systole pressure is recorded at the time when heart contracts.
In case both the systolic and diastolic readings are high than the normal hypertension readings then the person is said to have hypertension.
After this the condition is again classified as hypertension1, hypertension2 and finally isolated hypertension. In case when the readings of systolic blood pressure is higher and the readings of diastolic blood pressure is lower then that is considered to be isolated systolic hypertension.
This kind of isolated systolic hypertension in common in aged people. Some people along with high pressure they will also have diabetes and kidney problems. These kind of people need special care and treatment.
When in case if the hypertension does not respond to any kind of treatment then it is called resistive type.
Exercise Hypertension
Pressure increases to a certain extent when a person exercises. But when it increases to abnormal levels then it is called exercise hypertension. Physicians use exercise hypertension to monitor the patient and decide if they can have high pressure when they are at rest.
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
When a person feels giddy, out of mind and has some vision problems along with vomiting then there is high chance that the person can have high blood pressure. When the small blood vessels are squeezed brain swells. If these problems are not treated at early stage then it cannot be cured.
In case of kids, the symptoms can be lack of energy, headache, uneasy breathing, paralysis in face and nasal bleeding.
Secondary hypertension:
Another major cause of hypertension is imbalance in the hormone secretion. This will also increase blood pressure.
If a person is very fat and has some purple stretches in the under belly then it is called Cushing’s syndrome. Mixture of both diabetes and hypertension is also known as Cushing’s syndrome.
Abnormal secretion of hormone is called hyperthyroidism. This can also cause high pressure.
Along with these symptoms and other causes present in the individuals physicians conclude upon hypertension and then classify it.
Connection between pregnancy and hypertension
When a woman is pregnant it is normal to get hypertension. This kind of hypertension is temporary in nature. But in a few cases it may cause serious side effects like protein content in urine, swelling in whole body etc.
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What To Do If You Have Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on November 14, 2011
What does it mean if you have primary pulmonary hypertension? I have heard all of those words on their own, but certainly upon first glance didn’t know what they meant together. With a little reading, though, I understood what primary pulmonary hypertension was. Pulmonary hypertension is actually a disorder where your blood pressure in the arteries is higher than it should be, it is primary if there are no other disorders present. This can cause a number of health issues.
For one thing, in severe cases of primary pulmonary hypertension, the right side of the heart ends up working harder than usual to pump your blood against the high blood pressure in your arteries. After long periods of this, the right side of your heart becomes enlarged which causes it to function poorly. Fluid will begin to collect in your ankles and belly and then, eventually, the left side of your heart will begin to fail. If your heart fails as a result of primary pulmonary hypertension it is called cor pulmonale.
Heart failure as a result of pulmonary hypertension is caused by varying combinations of a number of disorders like emphysema, fibrosis, or chronic bronchitis. However, if you get pulmonary hypertension without any of these other disorders it is called primary pulmonary hypertension. It is more commonly found in men than it is in women, but its cause is not known at this time.
When the pulmonary hypertension comes as a result of the other disorders, it is called secondary pulmonary hypertension. It is more common than primary pulmonary hypertension. Secondary may be a result of pulmonary thromboembolism, COPD, or congenital heart disease. Since any of these can cause that rise in blood pressure that results in the symptoms discussed above.
Obviously if you find that you have either primary pulmonary hypertension or secondary pulmonary hypertension you are already under a doctor’s care. He or she may try oxygen therapy that will help to improve alveolar oxygen flow. You may also be asked by your physician to avoid vigorous exercise and to go through chest physiotherapy. The treatment for either type of pulmonary hypertension is basically the same. What is most important, though, is that you follow the advice of your physician closely as primary pulmonary hypertension can be very serious as can anything relating to the health of your heart.
Whether you find that you have primary pulmonary hypertension or secondary pulmonary hypertension you may find that you are a little upset or nervous. You have good reason because they are very serious disorders. However, if you listen to your doctor, take care of yourself, and keep a positive mindset you may find that you can overcome the problem. Heart conditions of any sort are obviously something to take seriously, so if you have any questions or concerns about primary pulmonary hypertension you should consult your physician and make sure you completely understand what is happening and what you should be doing to help yourself.
Tags: chronic bronchitis, congenital heart disease, cor pulmonale, primary pulmonary hypertension, secondary pulmonary hypertension