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  • Different Types of Hypertension You Must know About | High Blood Pressure

    Different Types of Hypertension You Must know About | High Blood Pressure

    Types of Hypertension

    Introduction to High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 220 million people in the country live with different types of hypertension. Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition in which your blood pressure (BP) is higher than normal.

    This blog will take you through the various types of hypertension, which include primary and secondary hypertension. These can also have further subtypes. Let’s delve deeper into the types of high blood pressure.

    Different Types of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

    There are two main types of hypertension – primary or essential and secondary.

    1) Primary hypertension:

    When the cause of high blood pressure is unidentifiable, it is called primary or essential hypertension. This condition develops over the years. In India, one in four individuals has hypertension. Most of them have the primary type.

    A combination of various factors, such as smoking, alcoholism, stress, obesity/overweight, excessive salt intake, and a sedentary lifestyle, leads to hypertension. Lifestyle and food habit modification may help lower your BP and prevent possible risks and complications.

    2) Secondary hypertension:

    This type of hypertension occurs when there is an underlying cause behind elevated blood pressure. It accounts for only 10% of all types of hypertension in India. Some of the potential reasons for secondary hypertension include the following:

    • Renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the arteries of your kidney)
    • Adrenal gland tumours
    • Obstructive sleep apnea
    • Hormonal imbalance
    • Issues with the thyroid gland
    • Kidney disease
    • Congenital heart defects
    • Certain medications such as antidepressants, birth control pills, painkillers
    • Substance addiction involving amphetamines and cocaine

    Subtypes of Hypertension

    Other than primary and secondary high blood pressure, there are various other types of hypertension. These are different subtypes of hypertension based on the origin of the condition or the cause of development.

    Pulmonary hypertension: Pulmonary hypertension may be a subtype of primary or secondary hypertension depending upon the causes. It refers to high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries that carry oxygen-deficient blood from the heart to the lungs. It is caused due to heart disease or lung disease. There are several types of pulmonary hypertension. These include:

    1) Pulmonary arterial hypertension:

    This is caused due to birth defects in the heart, heredity, use of certain drugs, and diseases, such as HIV, liver cirrhosis, and lupus.

    2) Pulmonary hypertension due to left-sided heart disease:

    This is caused by disease in the left-sided heart valve or failure of the left lower heart chamber.

    3) Pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease: 

    This occurs due to sleep apnea, scarring of lung tissue, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

    4) Pulmonary hypertension due to a blood clot in the lung: 

    This occurs due to clotting disorders or blood clots in the lungs.

    5) Pulmonary hypertension due to other disorders: 

    This occurs due to inflammatory and metabolic disorders, kidney disease, tumours, and blood disorders.

    6) Resistant hypertension: 

    When your blood pressure is difficult to control, even with three types of high blood pressure medications and a diuretic, it is called resistant hypertension. According to the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (JAPI), this type of hypertension affects one in five people with high blood pressure in India. It is a subtype of secondary hypertension with the cause yet to be identified. Once the underlying cause is evident, the condition may be reversed with multiple drugs.

    7) Malignant hypertension:

    When high BP happens to cause adverse effects on your organs, it indicates malignant hypertension. In this condition, your blood pressure ranges between or more than 180/120-130 mm Hg with multiple organ damage. It is one of the rarest types of hypertension. However, it could be a health emergency requiring immediate medical attention.

    8) Isolated systolic hypertension: 

    As per the Journal of Clinical Hypertension, isolated systolic hypertension or ISH is a subtype of primary hypertension that mainly affects young adults and the elderly. This type of hypertension occurs when your systolic blood pressure spikes above 140 mm Hg while your diastolic reading is below 90 mm Hg. Hardening of arteries with increasing age is one of the possible causes of ISH. Your doctor may prescribe different types of high blood pressure medications, such as diuretics, beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to treat ISH.

    The bottom line

    High blood pressure is infamous as a silent killer because its symptoms often go unnoticed. However, if diagnosed on time, all types of hypertension can be managed successfully with medications and lifestyle changes. So, see your doctor and get your BP checked once a month or as advised.

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    FAQs related Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

    1. What is a normal blood pressure level?

    The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) have categorised blood pressure stages as mentioned below:

    Normal BP: A blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg.

    Elevated BP: A systolic pressure between 120 and 129 mm Hg, and a diastolic reading below 80 mm Hg.

    Stage-1 hypertension: A systolic reading between 130 and 139 mm Hg, and a diastolic reading between 80 and 89 mm Hg.

    Stage-2 hypertension: A systolic reading o around 140 mm Hg, and a diastolic reading of 90 mm Hg or more.

    2. What are the symptoms of hypertension?

    The common symptoms of hypertension include:

    • Headaches in the morning
    • Nose bleeds
    • Irregular heartbeats
    • Changes in vision
    • Buzzing in the ears
    • Fatigue
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
    • Confusion
    • Anxiety
    • Chest pain
    • Muscle tremors

    3. How can you prevent hypertension?

    Here are some preventive measures for hypertension:

    • Consume less salt (less than 5 g daily)
    • Eat more vegetables and fruits
    • Have a regular physical activity schedule
    • Avoid tobacco use
    • Lower alcohol intake
    • Consume fewer foods high in saturated fat
    • Decrease or eliminate trans fats from the diet

    Hypertension causes – What leads to sudden high blood pressure

  • How long do blood pressure pills take to lower blood pressure?

    How long do blood pressure pills take to lower blood pressure?

    Contents

    lower blood pressure pills

    Treating high blood pressure

    If your blood pressure is between 130/80 and 140/90 mmHg (millimetres of mercury), your doctor will prescribe high blood pressure medications to help lower your pressure. These medications will also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

    Besides taking blood pressure tablets, you must also follow a healthy diet and lifestyle to maintain your blood pressure and overall health and well-being.

    Let us understand the various high blood pressure medications and how they work.

    ​7 High blood pressure facts you should be aware about | Hypertension​

    High blood pressure medication options 

    Blood pressure medications

    Doctors may prescribe one or more high blood pressure tablets to lower your blood pressure. These include:

    Diuretics

    Diuretics are a standard treatment for high blood pressure. They are also called water pills. They help remove sodium or salt and water from your body. These pills work quickly to reduce fluid retention. Their effect lasts about six hours. After you start taking these pills, you may need to urinate more often.

    These pills help your kidney release salt through urine.

    The sodium further helps remove excess water from your blood and thus reduces the fluid from your arteries and veins.

    These pills also treat swelling, heart failure, liver failure and kidney stones.

    Diuretics come in three types

    1. Thiazide
    2. Loop
    3. Potassium-sparing

    All three types work on different parts of the kidney. Some blood pressure tablets are a combination of two types of diuretics. Your doctor may also prescribe pills that combine diuretics with other blood pressure medications. The ideal diuretic for you depends upon your condition.

    If a diuretic doesn’t help lower your blood pressure, your doctor will prescribe other high-blood pressure medications.

    Beta-blockers

    Your doctor will prescribe beta blockers if other medications, such as diuretics, do not help lower your blood pressure. Beta-blockers work within 30 minutes to four hours of taking the first dose. Your doctor will prescribe these blood pressure tablets depending on your health.

    These medications help in the following ways:

    • They cause the heart to beat slowly and with less force. This reduces your blood pressure.
    • They widen your arteries, which helps improve blood flow.
    • Beta-blockers also help treat chest pain, heart failure and heart attacks.

    Alpha-blockers

    Alpha-blockers are also high-blood-pressure medications that keep the arteries open and relaxed. This improves blood flow and helps lower your blood pressure gradually.

    These drugs are either short-acting or long-acting. Short-acting alpha-blockers work fast, but their effects last a shorter while. Long-acting alpha-blockers take longer to work, but their effect lasts longer.

    To control your blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe these medications along with diuretics.

    As these medications lower your blood pressure, your doctor will advise you to take these at bedtime. You may feel lightheaded when rising from a sitting or lying position.

    Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

    ACE inhibitors relax the arteries and lower blood pressure. Your doctor may prescribe an ACE inhibitor and a diuretic or a calcium channel blocker to lower your blood pressure.

    These drugs also help treat heart attacks, heart disease and heart failure.

    ​ACE inhibitors take around 30 minutes to four hours to show effect after the first dose and 2 to 4 weeks for better effect.

    Calcium channel blockers

    These high blood pressure medications prevent calcium from entering the heart and arteries. This helps relax and open up your arteries.

    Calcium channel blockers also slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure.

    Calcium channel blockers are short-acting or long-acting. Short-acting channel blockers work faster, but their effect lasts for a short time. Long-acting channel blockers work slowly, but their effect lasts longer.

    Your doctor will prescribe the ideal calcium channel blockers depending on your condition.

    Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)

    ARBs are high blood pressure medications that relax the arteries and lower blood pressure. They are also used to treat heart failure and kidney disease.

    Your doctor will prescribe an ARB if your blood pressure does not come under control with ACE inhibitors. You may have to take a single dose of this medication in the morning or as per the doctor’s instructions.

    ​ARBs start working within 1 to 4 hours of the first dose and take approximately 2 to 4 weeks for better effect.

    Summing up

    While high blood pressure medications are crucial in lowering your blood pressure, a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle also help maintain the pressure. Apart from relaxing techniques and yoga, you can also develop a hobby to manage stress and anxiety. Check your blood pressure regularly, and do not discontinue your medicines without consulting your doctor.

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    1. What are the side effects of blood pressure medications?

    The common side effects of high blood pressure medications are:

    • Diuretics: Low potassium levels and weakness
    • Beta-blockers: Dizziness, exhaustion and low heart rate
    • Ace-inhibitors: Diarrhoea, dry cough, headache and high potassium levels
    • Calcium channel blockers: Constipation, dizziness and swelling of ankles
    • Angiotensin receptor blockers: Diarrhoea, dizziness, exhaustion and congestion

    2. Which medications cause high blood pressure?

    Medications for other health conditions often cause high blood pressure. These are:

    • Birth control pills
    • Migraine medications
    • Amphetamines

    Over-the-counter medications prescribed for allergies and cold

    3. When should I consult my doctor about high blood pressure?

    Regular meetings with your doctor are crucial if you have high blood pressure. You can consult them if your blood pressure levels are not reducing or if you have side effects from high blood pressure medications. They will change the dosage or prescribe other medication.