The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates that as of 2008, hypertension affected more than 30 percent of the adult population in the United States. Left uncontrolled, hypertension can lead to heart attacks and strokes. While medication and lifestyle modifications are often the first line of defense, in some cases these measures are not sufficient to lower blood pressure.

Significance

Blood pressure over 140/90 millimeters of Mercury (mm Hg) is considered high. Consistently high blood pressure exerts considerable force against the arteries, putting one at risk for a stroke or heart attack.

Types

Uncontrolled blood pressure may be caused by certain medications, brain abnormalities, endocrine disorders, renal artery blockage, or lack of patient compliance. A patient whose blood pressure does not adequately respond to anti-hypertensive medications is further evaluated by a cardiologist or endocrinologist.

Identification

According to the American Heart Association, uncontrolled high blood pressure may also result from a high salt intake, diabetes, obesity, sleep apnea and stimulant herbal products.

Effects

The CDC warns that women over 35 years old who smoke and take birth control pills are at higher risk for uncontrolled hypertension than those women who neither smoke nor take the pill. Stimulant herbal products such as ephedra may significantly raise blood pressure.

Prevention/Solution

Obesity and diabetes contribute to hypertension. A change in lifestyle, such as participating in aerobic exercise, following a low-glycemic-level diet and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels help to normalize blood pressure.

Warning

If a patient takes three or four blood pressure medications and his blood pressure is within normal range, then he would still have resistant hypertension, according to the American Heart Association.

Source:

Hypertension Statistics: Centers for Disease Control

Hypertension: National Institutes of Health

Resistant Hypertension: American Heart Association