This document discusses hypertension (high blood pressure) in three paragraphs. It defines hypertension as elevated blood pressure that forces the heart to work harder and can damage artery walls over time. It notes that hypertension often has no symptoms, making it a "silent killer". The document identifies some common causes of hypertension as being unknown, but sometimes related to kidney or adrenal gland conditions. It outlines treatment options for hypertension including dietary changes, exercise, and medications like calcium channel blockers and ARBs.

2. Table of content:
I. What is Hypertension ?
II. Classification of Hypertension
III. High Blood Pressure Symptoms
IV. What causes Hypertension?
V. The Warning Sign
VI. Danger Zone
VII. Treatment
VIII. References

3. What is Hypertension?
 High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a very
common condition in older adults. The blood
pressure is the physical force exerted by the blood
as it pushes against the walls of the arteries. An
elevated blood pressure means that the heart must
work harder to pump blood.
 High blood pressure can also damage the walls of
the arteries. With time, hypertension increases the
risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke.

5. High Blood Pressure
Symptoms
 Hypertension may not produce any symptoms, even
if you have had it for years. That is why it is
sometimes referred to as a "silent killer.”
 1 out of every 5 people with high blood pressure
aren’t aware that they have this major risk factor for
strokes and heart attacks
 high blood pressure can damage the heart and
circulation, lungs, brain, and kidneys without causing
noticeable symptoms

6. What Causes Hypertension?
 Blood pressure is given as a reading of two numbers, such as
110/70
 The lower number shows the pressure between the
heartbeats, while the heart is refilling with blood. Normal blood
pressure readings are lower than 120/80
 The cause of most cases of hypertension is unknown.
Occasionally, conditions of the kidney or adrenal gland are the
cause of high blood pressure

7. A Warning Sign
 Prehypertension means that your blood pressure
falls just above the normal level
 People suffering from prehypertension have two
times the risk of heart disease compared with those
who have lower blood pressures
 Lifestyle changes can help many people who suffers
from prehypertension

8. Danger Zone
 People considered to have hypertension if their blood
pressure measurements are 140/90 or higher
 When blood pressure reaches 180/110 or higher, a serious
condition known as a hypertensive crisis may occur
 Symptoms of hypertensive crisis can include anxiety,
nosebleeds, severe headache, and shortness of breath

9. Treatment
 Dietary changes can help control blood pressure by eating
more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products,
poultry, nuts, and fish. (Red meat, saturated fats, and sweets
should be avoided.)
 Exercise is another lifestyle factor that can lower blood
pressure
 Medicine

10. Medical Treatment
 Calcium channel blockers are drugs that reduce the movement
of calcium into cells of the heart and vessels. This reduces the
strength of heart contractions and relaxes the arteries,
allowing them to remain more open, lowering blood pressure.
 ARBs or angiotensin receptor blockers prevents the actions of
angiotensin II on the arteries. This means the arteries stay more
open and blood pressure is lowered
 Other medications such as alpha blockers, vasodilators, and
central alpha agonists.

11. References
 Carretero OA, Oparil S; Oparil (January 2000).
"Essential hypertension. Part I: definition and
etiology". Circulation 101 (3): 329–35.
doi:10.1161/01.CIR.101.3.329. PMID 10645931
 Lewington, S; Clarke, R; Qizilbash, N; Peto, R; Collins,
R; Prospective Studies, Collaboration (Dec 14, 2002).
"Age-specific relevance of usual blood pressure to
vascular mortality: a meta-analysis of individual data
for one million adults in 61 prospective studies.".
Lancet 360 (9349): 1903–13. doi:10.1016/s0140-
6736(02)11911-8. PMID 12493255

12. References
 MedicineNet.com. High Blood Pressure Symptoms,
Causes and
Treatments.http://www.medicinenet.com/high_bloo
d_pressure_pictures_slideshow/article.htm
(accessed 29 Novemver 2015)