Hypertension and you!

What is hypertension?
Hypertension (otherwise known as high blood
pressure) is a common condition that affects millions
of Australians. Hypertension occurs when the force of
blood flowing through arteries is consistently too high
and puts strain on the artery walls and blood vessels
(Staessen et al., 2003). This can lead to serious
health implications if not properly addressed, such as
heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage/failure
(Staessen et al., 2003). Blood pressure is measured
using two metrics: Systolic and diastolic pressure. A
normal blood pressure reading is around 120 mmHg
for systolic pressure and 80 mmHg for diastolic
pressure or 120/80 mmHg as it is often represented.
Readings of, or in excess of, 140/90 are considered
dangerous and are indicators of potential
hypertension (Staessen et al., 2003).

How does hypertension affect the body? (Pathogenesis)

Arteries carry blood to all the necessary sites within the body (muscles, organs and various
tissues), but the arteries themselves are vital tissues that become compromised in the
circumstance of hypertension. The elevated blood pressure of hypertension is usually
caused by either or both of the following conditions: Overly forceful heart beats (caused by
stress, hormones, kidney issues), artery hardening, narrowing and/or loss of flexibility (due
to aging or cholesterol buildup) (Oparil et al., 2003). Prolonged hypertension can cause
damage to the inner linings of the arteries; causing them to become less elastic, thicker and
more prone to plaque buildup (Oparil et al., 2003). Over extended periods, this can result in
Atherosclerosis, reduced blood flow to vital organs and increased strain on the heart.

How do I know if I have it?

Whilst hypertension is usually an asymptomatic condition unfortunately, there are key
indicators to keep and eye out for. These include:
●​ Headaches, dizziness or lightheadedness
●​ Blurred vision
●​ Shortness of breath
●​ Chest pain
●​ Nosebleeds
*(Jarvis, 2016)
It is also possible to have hypertension without experiencing any of the aforementioned
symptoms which is why regular check ups are crucial.
What am I at risk of if I have it?

If left unchecked and untreated, hypertension can lead to multiple health-compromising

outcomes such as:
●​ Heart attack: Blocked blood flow to the heart muscle
●​ Stroke: Reduced or blocked blood supply to the brain
●​ Heart failure: The heart becomes too weak or stiff to pump properly
●​ Kidney damage: High pressure can destroy tiny blood vessels in the kidneys
●​ Vision loss: Damage to the blood vessels in the eyes (hypertensive retinopathy)
*(Nair & Peate, 2015)

Should I be worried?

Hypertension is a multifaceted condition that does not come down to one or factors, but
there are numerous aspects of your life you can keep tabs on to reduce the likelihood of
hypertension (Craft et al., 2022). These include things like: avoiding diets of high salt intake,
smoking and stress inducing environments, ensuring you achieve sufficient exercise in
accordance with the guidelines for your age/capability group, low alcohol consumption,
healthy sleep routines and healthy weight management (Ralston et al., 2018). Whilst these
are all aspects controllable at the individual level, there are also factors that increase the risk
of hypertension that cannot be modified. Such factors include: being of 45+ years of age,
family history of hypertension, certain ethnic groups such as indigenous Australians and
males in general are at higher risk until menopause age is reached in women (Ralston et al.,
2018). Whilst these factors might
not be mutable, the majority of
hypertension management comes
down to lifestyle choice. Small
actions and changes made
consistently make a big difference
to your risk of hypertension.
Hypertension affects:
●​ 1 in 3 adults globally (Mills
& He, 2020)
●​ 1 in 3 Australians aged 18
and over
●​ An estimated 6 million
●​ Australians live with high
blood pressure, many of
whom are undiagnosed
Hypertension affects many people,
but with simple steps and
considerations you can minimise your susceptibility and risk to the adverse health
implications to live your life on your terms.

How does hypertension affect my community?

Hypertensions is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke which results in serious
hospitalisation, potentially disability, or even death. In the context of hypertension's
prevelency, this results in substantial impacts on society even for those without
hypertension. Such effects are:
●​ Healthcare costs: Billions spent annually on medications, monitoring, and treating
complications (Mills & He, 2020).
●​ Lost productivity: Sick days, reduced work ability, early retirement due to stroke or
heart failure (Mills & He, 2020).
●​ Social and emotional toll: Chronic illness often leads to stress, depression, and
reduced quality of life (Craft et al., 2022).
●​ Emergency care strain: Many first-time diagnoses happen during heart attacks or
strokes (Boron & Boulpaep, 2017).
Hypertension’s potentially asymptomatic nature coupled with its widespread prevalence
creates a large impact on society at large which is why early detection and intervention are
critical (Nair & Peate, 2015).
References:
Boron, W. F., & Boulpaep, E. L. (2017). Medical physiology. Elsevier.
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/think/reader.action?docID=5553767&c=UERG

Craft, J., Gordon, C., Huether, S. E., McCance, K. L., & Brashers, V. L. (2022).
Understanding pathophysiology (4th ANZ ed.). Elsevier Australia.
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/torrens.edu.au?url=https://www.clinicalkey.com/s
tudent/nursing/content/toc/3-s2.0-C20200021407

Jarvis, C. (2016). Physical examination & health assessment (7th ed.). Elsevier.
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/think/reader.action?docID=2074613&c=UERG

Mills, K. T., Stefanescu, A., & He, J. (2020). The global epidemiology of hypertension. Nature
Reviews Nephrology, 16(4), 223-237.

Nair, M., & Peate, I. (2015). Pathophysiology for nurses at a glance. Wiley.
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/torrens.edu.au?url=http://www.r2library.com/reso
urce/tit e/9781118746066

Oparil, S., Zaman, M. A., & Calhoun, D. A. (2003). Pathogenesis of hypertension. Annals of
internal medicine, 139(9), 761-776.

Ralston, S., Strachan, M. W., Britton, R., Penman, I. D., & Hobson, R. P. (2018). Davidson’s
principles and practice of medicine (23rd ed.). Elsevier.
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/think/reader.action?docID=5434797&c=UERG

Staessen, J. A., Wang, J., Bianchi, G., & Birkenhäger, W. H. (2003). Essential hypertension.
The Lancet, 361(9369), 1629-1641.