|
Category |
SBP |
– |
DBP |
| Optimal | < 120 | and | < 80 |
| Normal | 120 – 129 | and/or | 80 – 84 |
| High Normal | 130 – 139 | and/or | 85 – 89 |
| Grade 1 Hypertension (mild) | 140 – 159 | and/or | 90 – 99 |
| Grade 2 Hypertension (moderate) | 160 – 179 | and/or | 100 – 109 |
| Grade 3 Hypertension (severe) | > 180 | and/or | > 110 |
| Isolated Systolic Hypertension | > 140 | and | < 90 |
Know the “Causes” to find solutions
More than 90% of patients with high blood pressure often do not know the cause. However, we believe there are two major factors: genetics, where people with parents who have high blood pressure are more likely to develop it than those whose parents do not have it.
These symptoms… indicate a possibility
For people with mild to moderate high blood pressure, symptoms often do not appear, but organs are gradually damaged, leading to complications. For those with severe high blood pressure, symptoms may include nosebleeds, temporary vision loss, easy fatigue, chest pain, dizziness. However, not everyone experiences these symptoms, so whenever you start feeling abnormal, it is best to see a doctor immediately.
Complications… dangerous threats
Besides the disease itself, patients may have other complications such as an enlarged heart, thickening and hardening of coronary arteries. In the brain, it may cause stroke and paralysis. It can lead to kidney dysfunction up to chronic kidney failure, retinal bleeding, blockage of small retinal vessels, or retinal detachment. It may also cause narrowed or aneurysmal blood vessels.
These are… risk factors for cardiovascular disease
- Severity levels of SBP and DBP (levels 1-3)
- Pulse pressure level (in elderly) > 90 mmHg
- Men over 55 years old / Women over 65 years old
- Smoking
- Abnormal blood lipid levels: Total Cholesterol > 190 mg/dL or LDL-C > 115 mg/dL or HDL-C < 40 mg/dL in men and < 46 mg/dL in women or Triglyceride > 150 mg/dL
- FPG 100 – 125 mg/dL
- Abnormal Glucose Tolerance Test
- History of cardiovascular disease in father, mother, or siblings at an early age (men before 55 years old and women before 65 years old)
- Central obesity: waist circumference > 90 cm in men and > 80 cm in women
Treatment of high blood pressure… is not difficult at all
It may start with lifestyle changes, even for people who have never had this disease before, to prevent or delay the onset of high blood pressure. For those who already have it, some may be prescribed blood pressure-lowering medication because some can control their blood pressure by lifestyle changes alone and may not need medication.
