In the UK, around one in three adults have hypertension or high blood pressure, and 1 in every 10 pregnant women are affected by the condition.
Worryingly, around 50% of people with high blood pressure are not currently diagnosed or receiving treatment. In England alone, there are estimated to be more than five million people that are living with the disease unknowingly.
What is hypertension?
When your heart beats, it pumps blood around your body to give it the energy and oxygen it needs. As the blood moves, it pushes against the sides of the blood vessels. The strength of this pushing is your blood pressure. If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your arteries and your heart, which can lead to strokes, heart attacks and other health problems.
Signs of hypertension
High blood pressure, in the majority of cases, does not cause any symptoms, and many people have the condition without realising it.
In rare cases, hypertension can cause: headaches, blurred vision, chest pain.
The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checked.
Risk factors
Hypertension has many risk factors, which can be grouped into modifiable and non-modifiable categories:
Non-modifiable risk factors
- Age: Increases with age, especially after 45 for men and 65 for women
- Genetics/family history: Having close relatives with the condition
- Race/ethnicity: People of black African and black Caribbean origin are more likely to be diagnosed
- Gender: Men are generally at higher risk at younger ages, while risk for women increases in pregnancy and post-menopause
Modifiable risk factors
Poor diet
- High sodium (salt) intake
- Low potassium, magnesium, and calcium intake
- Diets high in saturated and trans fats
Lack of physical activity: Sedentary lifestyle contributes to higher blood pressure
Obesity/overweight: Excess body weight increases the strain on your heart
Smoking: Damages blood vessels and raises blood pressure
Excessive alcohol consumption: More than 1 drink a day for women, or 2 drinks a day for men raises blood pressure
Chronic stress: Can contribute to long-term increases in blood pressure
Sleep apnea or poor sleep quality: Linked with elevated blood pressure
Chronic conditions
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- High cholesterol
Hypertension in pregnancy
High blood pressure during pregnancy is a serious condition that requires careful monitoring, as it can affect both the mother and the baby. It can occur in different forms, and its impact varies depending on the type and severity.
Checking of maternal blood pressure and urine tests should be encouraged during all routine appointments with pregnant women.
Types of hypertension in pregnancy:
Chronic hypertension
- High blood pressure diagnosed before pregnancy or before 20 weeks gestation
- May persist after delivery
- Can lead to complications like pre-eclampsia or growth problems for the baby
Gestational hypertension
- Develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy without protein in the urine or other organ damage
- Usually resolves after delivery
- Can progress to pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia
- A serious condition involving high blood pressure + signs of organ damage (often kidneys or liver), usually after 20 weeks
- Symptoms: swelling, sudden weight gain, headache, vision changes, upper abdominal pain.
- Can progress to eclampsia (seizures) or HELLP syndrome (a liver-related complication).
- Requires immediate medical attention
Eclampsia
- Severe complication of preeclampsia involving seizures.
- Life-threatening for both mother and baby.
Chronic hypertension with superimposed pre-eclampsia
- Women with chronic hypertension develop preeclampsia during pregnancy
Diagnosis and treatment
Hypertension is diagnosed when your blood pressure is consistently above normal levels over a period of time.
Your GP will ask you questions about your medical history, symptoms and conduct an examination. They will then listen to your heart, and will check your blood pressure using a cuff around your upper arm and measuring the pressure in your blood vessels.
An ideal blood pressure reading is between 90/60mmHg (millimetres of mercury) and 120/80mmHg.
At Cinnamon Healthcare, we offer a wide range of hypertension investigations which include:
- Blood tests: Cholesterol, kidney function and blood sugar
- Urine test: Protein or abnormalities
- Home ECG: Electrocardiogram
- Home heart scan: Ultrasound-echocardiogram
- Hospital heart scans: Detailed heart scans in hospitals (coronary calcium scoring and coronary CT angiograms)
Management of hypertension at Cinnamon Healthcare:
Acute – a sudden and/or severe elevation of blood pressure which can be associated with symptoms such as headache or visual symptoms – this requires prompt identification and treatment. Dr V Vijay is our leading expert for acute and urgent care.
Chronic hypertension – persistent high blood pressure which often requires long term medication with appropriate monitoring. Dr L Baskaran is a leading expert for chronic disease management.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy – high blood pressure that develops around pregnancy. Dr D Vinayagam is a leading expert for the different types of conditions including pre-eclampsia, and has authored a number of medical research publications on pregnancy-related high blood pressure.
Treatment
Treatment of hypertension involves a combination of lifestyle changes and, if needed, medications to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and other complications.
Monitoring of the condition is key, with regular blood pressure checks, medication adherence (missing doses can lead to complications) and routine blood tests to monitor kidney function and electrolyte levels.
The good news is that someone with high blood pressure that is well controlled, reduces their risk of stroke and heart disease to almost that of a person who does not have high blood pressure.
Get the help you need
At Cinnamon Healthcare, our experienced clinicians provide dedicated consultations to listen to your concerns and support you.
