What do you know about blood pressure?

High blood pressure is called the silent killer. Not knowing that you have a high blood pressure, may results in heart attack, stroke or kidney failure. High blood pressure is a systolic blood pressure of 140 or higher or a diastolic pressure of 90 or higher. If you have high blood pressure three times in a row within a few weeks to several months, your doctor will tell you that you are suffering from high blood pressure.

What is the cause of high blood pressure?

Its cause in most cases is unknown, but risk factors such as family history, older age, obesity, smoking, poor diet and alcohol and salty foods increase the chance of getting hypertension.

What are the known causes of high blood pressure?

Some medications, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, adrenal gland diseases, and drug abuse can be effective in creating the disease.

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

Most cases are asymptomatic. Sometimes patients experience headaches, and if their blood pressure is too high visual impairment might result.

What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

If kidneys lose their effectiveness over time or get damaged, person can be diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Hypertension and diabetes are the two most common causes of chronic renal failure.

What is the relationship between kidney disease and high blood pressure?

Kidney makes hormones that regulate blood pressure. No wonder that kidney diseases can increase the blood pressure. The opposite of this issue may also occur. High blood pressure makes damage to arteries and results in reduced blood supply to the kidney. In addition, high blood pressure can damage kidney nephrons, which are small units which function to produce urine. If you have chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure can make it worse.

What are the first steps in treatment?

Weight loss and exercise, lower intake of tea, coffee and soft drinks, diet low in salt, and rich with fruit and vegetable, reduced stress, smoking cessation and low to no alcohol intake are recommended as first steps in treating high blood pressure. If the disease is not controlled with life style modification, your doctor will prescribe the necessary drugs.