You became curious and decided to check your blood pressure. It was above normal, causing you slight panic as you asked yourself, "Am I already hypertensive?"
Not necessarily.
A single instance of high blood pressure isn't sufficient to draw any conclusions. There are several criteria that doctors use to clinically confirm hypertension. However, a single high blood pressure reading may warrant a visit to the doctor. Only through consultation with a doctor and undergoing a thorough evaluation can you receive a correct diagnosis and sound medical advice.
Understanding blood pressure
The heart pushes blood through blood vessels to reach the rest of the body—that force is what we refer to as blood pressure. This pressure results in two forces: systolic pressure, which is the first force as blood pumps out of the heart and into the arteries, and diastolic pressure, the second force as the blood flows back and the heart rests between heartbeats. When using a sphygmomanometer or blood pressure machine, the number displayed above (in the case of automatic blood pressure machines) is the systolic pressure, while the number below is the diastolic pressure.
High blood pressure or hypertension
When the heart struggles to push blood against the walls of the arteries, requiring more force, higher pressure develops, leading to high blood pressure readings. For someone to be considered hypertensive, their high blood pressure readings should be consistently elevated, meaning they occur almost daily—typically readings above 140/90 based on Philippine and international standards.
High blood pressure has two causes: one is innate or uncontrollable, such as age, sex, and genetics. The other group of contributing factors is controllable, such as dietary intake (excessive salt, for instance), sedentary lifestyle, weight gain, smoking, and stress. Uncontrolled hypertension can eventually damage organs—such as the eyes, brain, heart, blood vessels, and kidneys—known as hypertension-mediated organ damage. The longer hypertension remains uncontrolled, the higher the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, leading to conditions like heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, and kidney problems. This underscores the importance of managing hypertension as early as possible.
Diagnosing high blood pressure or hypertension
Like any other illness, early detection is key. While we often hear about "putok-batok" or artery-blocking discomfort after indulging in fatty meals, which people may associate with high blood pressure readings, hypertension often presents without symptoms. Symptoms like headaches may only occur during a hypertensive crisis—a medical emergency characterized by a sudden and severe increase in blood pressure readings of 180/110 mmHg or higher. The only way to diagnose hypertension is through a series of tests conducted by a medical professional.
To determine if blood pressure readings are chronically high, patients are typically asked to record their morning and evening blood pressures daily for about a week. Consistently elevated readings can be a clinical factor in diagnosing hypertension. Additionally, routine blood tests are requested to check cholesterol levels, glucose, kidney function, and liver function, aiming to identify secondary diseases that could affect blood pressure or vice versa—where high blood pressure readings may be damaging organs. Depending on the situation, further tests such as an ECG and echocardiogram may also be recommended to assess heart health.
At the Hypertension Clinic of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center, where I am the head, consultations are available every tuesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. During these consultations, we may recommend additional tests to assess your condition. Alternatively, a complete heart package can provide a comprehensive assessment of your heart's health.
Preventing or delaying hypertension
If you are fortunate that a single instance of high blood pressure reading was merely the result of panic, exercise, or excitement, and not chronic, then you are not yet hypertensive. However, this does not guarantee that luck will always be on your side. Some may believe that developing hypertension is unavoidable due to genetics and other factors, but there are ways to reduce your risk, delay, or even prevent acquiring this condition. Actions you can take include undergoing annual check-ups, eating healthier, managing stress, and exercising regularly.
Managing hypertension
In the unfortunate event that you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension, know that it isn’t the end of the world. There are ways to manage it and live a happy life.
1. Always make sure that you religiously take your maintenance medication. Hypertension is a lifelong condition that needs to be controlled, so taking your meds is key to keeping danger at bay.
2. As you commit to your maintenance meds, you also need to commit to regularly checking in with your doctor. Get your work-ups done as requested.
3. Choose healthy options for your diet. Avoid foods high in saturated fat, salt, and processed food. Ideally, keep your salt intake to 1500 mg per day. Opt for foods with high omega-3 fatty acid content (e.g., salmon) as they can help increase good cholesterol (HDL) and lower blood pressure, as evidenced by multiple research studies and meta-analyses.
4. Exercise! Even 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day can go a long way. Studies show that this is enough to lower the risk of heart disease. It can also help lower BP as exercise improves blood flow.
5. Stress at work and home is often unavoidable, but we can learn how to manage it to avoid negative impacts on our health. Meditation and deep breathing exercises are one way to destress. We can also look for activities that calm us—singing, yoga, or a walk outside can be beneficial.
6. Ditch the vices. We doctors understand that it’s not easy, but slowly moving away from smoking and drinking will make your heart happy.
The Asian Cardiovascular Institute at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center offers heart healthcare through centers of excellence, including Interventional Cardiology and Cardiovascular Catheterization Lab, Structural Heart Disease and Endovascular Therapy, Cardiovascular Surgery, Diagnostic Cardiology, General Adult Cardiology, Pediatric Cardiology, Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation, Cardiac Physiology, Arrhythmia and Syncope, Cardiology Fellowship Training, and Cardiovascular Research. It provides a comprehensive suite of diagnostic and treatment procedures. For more information, contact ACVI at 87719000 or email [email protected].