What
is Essential Hypertension
Probably, you have heard the expression
essential hypertension before. And likely, you have
also heard about the word "primary". Guess what... both are referring
to the same. Primary
hypertension
is
the most common type of high blood
pressure.
The
difference between this one and the secondary one is that in the
primary, there is no specific medical cause that can be found to
explain the condition of the patient. With the secondary
type, there is a specific medical cause which can be identified. The
secondary type is less common than the essential or primary hypertension.
When monitoring your blood
pressure, if the
reading is between 140-159 (systolic)/90-99 (diastolic) then this is
considered essential hypertension.
This condition is chronic, which means that
there is no cure, it will be there for the rest of your life. But that
doesn't mean that this is the "end of the world". The good
news is that this condition can be
under control. And you can life a normal life as long as you
follow the treatment recommended by your doctor.
Unfortunately, there are no recognizable
symptoms. That's why it is also known as "the silent killer" . Many
people have the condition without even knowing. That's why it is very
important to monitor your blood pressure regularly.
Although there is no a specific medical
cause, there are some factors that can contribute. These factors are
the following:
-
salt (sodium intake)
-
insulin resistance
-
genetics
-
age
The advantage of treating the condition as
soon as possible can make a big difference in your life. With
medications, a change in your diet (that means changing to a healthy
diet by reducing the sodium (salt) intake, for example, and also
exercise will help you feel much better.
Remember,
the most important here is that
you follow your doctor recommended treatment to keep your blood
pressure under control.
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