Hypertension

It is common for blood pressure to rise in middle-aged and older people. High blood pressure can be caused by lifestyle another disease or it can be hereditary. Hypertension often develops slowly and unnoticed, as one rarely feels high blood pressure as it is almost always asymptomatic. High blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, so its treatment is important.

How do I know if my blood pressure is high?

You can only find out your blood pressure level by measuring it. It is natural for blood pressure to fluctuate during the day, for example, depending on physical and mental stress. If blood pressure is noticed to be high at a doctor’s or nurse’s appointment, measurements are continued at home for a week to determine the blood pressure level and to calculate the average. According to the current treatment recommendations, blood pressure is normal when it is below 130/85 mmHg. Blood pressure is classified as elevated when it is repeatedly 140/90 mmHg or higher when measured by a nurse or doctor, or 135/85 mmHg or higher when measured at home. Only about one in five Finns has an ideal blood pressure level (120/80 mmHg or lower). It is recommended to measure your blood pressure at home, as measurements taken at the doctor’s office are often higher than normal. You can download and print a table here and you can take it with you to your doctor’s or nurse’s appointment.

What are the consequences of high blood pressure and why is it important to treat it?

When blood pressure is elevated, the heart has to work harder to pump blood against the pressure. This not only strains the heart but also the arteries, significantly increasing the risk of heart or cerebrovascular diseases. Treating hypertension can significantly reduce the risk of, for example, cerebrovascular disorders. High blood pressure is the main risk factor for stroke.

A heart-healthy lifestyle can both prevent and treat high blood pressure. Even small changes can lead into beneficial effects. When high blood pressure is diagnosed, it is first treated with healthy lifestyle habits. If lifestyle changes do not lower blood pressure enough, medication supports it. If blood pressure is significantly elevated, medication is started immediately.

Self-care for high blood pressure is important and also supports drug treatment

  • Reducing salt lowers blood pressure. The recommended maximum amount of salt per day is  of 5 g and it is easily exceeded, as it is often difficult to understand the amount of salt eaten during the day, especially since many foods contain so-called hidden salt. It is recommended to reduce salt usage in cooking. Also heart marked products in grocery store are always better choice because they contain less salt. Notice that usually bread has hidden salt so pay attention to the nutritional information list.
  • A varied diet has beneficial effects on blood pressure. A diet containing lots of vegetables, root vegetables, fruit, berries, whole grain products, non-fat dairy products and soft fats lowers blood pressure.
  • Increasing fiber not only lowers blood pressure, but also cholesterol and balances blood sugar.
  • Weight management. High blood pressure is three times more common among those who are more than 15 kilograms overweight than among those of normal weight.
  • Non-smokingness. Smoking raises blood pressure by 5-10 mmHg and is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
  • Reducing alcohol consumption lowers blood pressure, and reducing alcohol consumption is especially important for heavy drinkers.
  • Exercise. For example brisk exercise for half an hour five days a week has a beneficial effect on blood pressure. The effects of regular exercise on blood pressure can be noticed within a few weeks.
  • Stress raises cortisol levels, which in turn raises blood pressure. When stress continues for a long time, it increases the risk a heart attack. It is important to think about which stress factors you can influence and increase the factors that reduce stress.
  • Did you know that licorice and salmiak raise blood pressure? It is recommended to stop using them altogether if your blood pressure is high.

It is good to remember that you do not have to do everything at once – first choose one factor that you are going to change.

How is hypertension diagnosed?

Usually, high blood pressure is detected either based on home measurements or on a blood pressure measurement taken at a doctor’s or nurse’s appointment. If you notice that your blood pressure is high, it is a good idea to collect the measurement results in a chart from which you can calculate your average blood pressure level. It is a good idea to measure blood pressure at home, as measurements taken at the doctor’s appointment may show higher values ​​than usual. These things should be taken into account when measuring blood pressure at home. A reliable picture of blood pressure level can also be obtained by monitoring blood pressure around the clock. By 24-hour blood pressure study can easily determine how blood pressure behaves in everyday life at different times of the day, such as when sleeping at night. It is also useful, for example, in assessing the effectiveness of blood pressure medication that has been started.

If blood pressure is found to be elevated at a doctor’s office, basic tests are performed and the risk factors for arterial diseases are mapped. It is also determined whether there may be an underlying disease behind the elevated blood pressure. Laboratory and imaging tests are performed if necessary. Elevated blood pressure is always treated with lifestyle changes, but medication may also be needed to support the treatment of hypertension.