SmartAnalysis by DigiNepal SI

High blood pressure means the force of blood against artery walls is persistently too high. It usually has no symptoms but greatly raises the risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney disease. Symptoms: Usually none — which is why it is called 'silent'. Very high pressure can cause headaches, nosebleeds or blurred vision. The only way to know is to measure it. Have your blood pressure checked at any health facility; see a doctor if it is repeatedly high, and urgently for the red-flag signs below. generated by SI from cited sources · general information, not a diagnosis · consult a health professional

Sources: World Health Organization · Nepal MoHP — Epidemiology and Disease Control Division · MedlinePlus (NLM) · MedlinePlus (NLM) · NHS, USPSTF · MoHP Nepal (EDCD), USPSTF, WHO · SI, NLM MedlinePlus, CDC, WHO (paraphrased)

What it is

Hypertension is a chronic condition assessed by SI.

Sources: SI, NLM MedlinePlus, CDC, WHO (paraphrased) · Reference · https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/; https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension; https://www.mayoclinic.org/search/search-results?q=Hypertension; Guideline: 2017 ACC/AHA BP guideline (diagnosis needs readings on 2 or more occasions); https://edcd.gov.np

Symptoms

Usually no symptoms (a silent condition). Very high readings can cause headache, blurred vision or chest pain.

Sources: SI, NLM MedlinePlus, CDC, WHO (paraphrased) · Reference · https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/; https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension; https://www.mayoclinic.org/search/search-results?q=Hypertension; Guideline: 2017 ACC/AHA BP guideline (diagnosis needs readings on 2 or more occasions); https://edcd.gov.np

Causes

Risks: too much salt, overweight, inactivity, alcohol, tobacco, stress, family history, older age, kidney disease.

Sources: SI, NLM MedlinePlus, CDC, WHO (paraphrased) · Reference · https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/; https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension; https://www.mayoclinic.org/search/search-results?q=Hypertension; Guideline: 2017 ACC/AHA BP guideline (diagnosis needs readings on 2 or more occasions); https://edcd.gov.np

When to seek care

EMERGENCY, go now: chest pain, severe headache with confusion, weakness of one side, difficulty speaking, breathlessness, or a reading of 180/120 or higher with symptoms. See a clinician for any reading of 140/90 or higher.

Sources: SI, NLM MedlinePlus, CDC, WHO (paraphrased) · Reference · https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/; https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension; https://www.mayoclinic.org/search/search-results?q=Hypertension; Guideline: 2017 ACC/AHA BP guideline (diagnosis needs readings on 2 or more occasions); https://edcd.gov.np

Diagnosis

Blood pressure measured on 2 or more separate occasions; home or ambulatory monitoring.

Sources: SI, NLM MedlinePlus, CDC, WHO (paraphrased) · Reference · https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/; https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension; https://www.mayoclinic.org/search/search-results?q=Hypertension; Guideline: 2017 ACC/AHA BP guideline (diagnosis needs readings on 2 or more occasions); https://edcd.gov.np

Care & treatment

Less salt, healthy diet, activity, weight control, limiting alcohol, stopping tobacco, and long-term medicines prescribed by a clinician. No dosing information is given here.

Sources: SI, NLM MedlinePlus, CDC, WHO (paraphrased) · Reference · https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/; https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension; https://www.mayoclinic.org/search/search-results?q=Hypertension; Guideline: 2017 ACC/AHA BP guideline (diagnosis needs readings on 2 or more occasions); https://edcd.gov.np