Zachary Yablon, MD
06 16, 2021
Hypertension Overview
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure, namely a blood pressure above 140 mmHg systolic (upper value) and/or above 90 mmHg diastolic (lower value).
Hypertension is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease due to the deleterious effects of increased blood pressure on kidney vasculature. Long-term, uncontrolled, high blood pressure leads to high intraglomerular pressure, impairing glomerular filtration. -Learn why high blood pressure can lead to chronic kidney disease-
Fortunately, treatments to lower blood pressure are usually easy to take and can help prevent health problems.
High Blood Pressure in the United States
According to the CDC (1):
- Having high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States.
- In 2018, nearly half a million deaths in the United States included hypertension as a primary or contributing cause.
- Only about 1 in 4 adults (24%) with hypertension have their condition under control.
- About half of adults (45%) with uncontrolled hypertension have 140/90 mm Hg blood pressure or higher. This includes 37 million U.S. adults.
- High blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of death for more than 410,000 Americans in 2014—that's more than 1,100 deaths each day.
- High blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of death for more than 494,873 people in the United States in 2018.
Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure
Having certain medical conditions can increase your chances of developing high blood pressure. These conditions include:
- Prehypertension.
- Diabetes.
Unhealthy behaviors can also increase your risk for high blood pressure, especially for people who have one of the medical conditions listed above.
Unhealthy behaviors include:
- Smoking tobacco.
- Eating foods high in sodium.
- Not getting enough physical activity.
- Being obese.
- Drinking too much alcohol.
Lifestyle Changes
Making lifestyle changes is an essential first step in treating high blood pressure. To get the maximum health benefits of drinking water, you need to drink eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water per day.
Generally, if you have hypertension, your ultimate goal should be twelve 8-ounce glasses or 96 ounces of water per day. -Ask your doctor before following these standard guidelines.-
Chronic dehydration also can be a cause of high blood pressure by making the body hold onto sodium. This increases blood volume and thus blood pressure. Make a point of drinking a minimum of eight and preferably 10 to 12 glasses of pure, filtered water every day.
Control Blood Pressure
Measuring your blood pressure is an essential step toward keeping healthy blood pressure. Because high blood pressure and prehypertension often have no symptoms, checking your blood pressure is the only way to know whether it is too high.
If you learn that you have prehypertension or high blood pressure, you should take steps to control your blood pressure to lower your risk of chronic kidney disease.
Manage Diabetes
Most people with diabetes—about 6 out of 10—also have high blood pressure (1). If your healthcare provider thinks you have symptoms of diabetes, he or she may recommend that you get tested.
If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels carefully. Talk with your health care team about treatment options.
Your doctor may recommend specific lifestyle changes to help keep your blood sugar under reasonable control—those actions will help reduce your risk for high blood pressure.
Take Your Medicine
If you take medication to treat high blood pressure or diabetes, follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Always ask questions if you do not understand something. Never stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor.
Talk with Your Health Care Team
You and your health care team can work together to prevent or treat the medical conditions that lead to high blood pressure. Discuss your hypertension treatment plan regularly, and bring a list of questions to your appointments.
Our Florida Kidney Physicians providers are specialists in hypertension. They will provide you with a proper diet plan and a guideline for fluid intake.
If you have prehypertension or diabetes, you can take steps to lower your risk for high blood pressure and improve your quality of life.
References:
(1) https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm
(2) kidney.org
FAQs
Making lifestyle changes is an essential first step in treating high blood pressure. To get the maximum health benefits of drinking water, you need to drink eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Chronic dehydration also can be a cause of high blood pressure by making the body hold onto sodium.
Is it good to drink a lot of water with high blood pressure? ›
Drinking water can help normalize blood pressure. If you are dehydrated, it can also help lower blood pressure. Drinking water is not a treatment for high blood pressure but it can help you sustain healthier blood pressure, whether you have hypertension or not.
What type of doctor is best for high blood pressure? ›
An early visit to a cardiologist who can assess risk and give recommendations for heart-healthy lifestyle modifications or controlling other medical problems (such as diabetes) will definitely impact your long-term health status, quality of life and survival.
When to see a nephrologist for high blood pressure? ›
If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, have diabetes, or a family history of kidney disease, consider being under the care of a nephrologist.
What doctors do when BP is high? ›
Many people need to take a combination of different medicines. You may need to take blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. But your doctor might be able to reduce or stop your treatment if your blood pressure stays under control for several years. It's really important to take your medicine as directed.
How quickly does drinking water lower blood pressure? ›
On the average, 16 ounces of tap water raised blood pressure about 40 millimeters of mercury in patients with autonomic failure. Blood pressure started increasing within two or three minutes after the water was ingested, increased rapidly over the next 15 minutes, and then began to decrease after about 60 minutes.
What should I do if my blood pressure is 160 over 100? ›
Combination drug therapy — If a person has very high blood pressure (eg, 160/100 mmHg or higher), then combination therapy with two drugs at the same time rather than monotherapy (treatment with a single medication) may be the initial step in blood pressure treatment.
What is considered stroke level for high blood pressure? ›
Call 911 or emergency medical services if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke. Stroke symptoms include numbness or tingling, trouble speaking, or changes in vision.
What should I do if my blood pressure is 130 80? ›
If your blood pressure remains 130/80 or above, but lower than 140/90 mm Hg, your provider may recommend medicines to treat high blood pressure. If you have other diseases or risk factors for heart or kidney disease, your provider may be more likely to recommend medicines at the same time as lifestyle changes.
Can I live a long life with high blood pressure? ›
On the other hand, the life expectancy of someone with controlled high blood pressure can often be well into retirement age. With that being said, research³ does show that although you can live a long life, it may be five to seven years shorter than those without high blood pressure.
But there are subsets of patients whose hypertension is difficult to control or who have additional cardiovascular disease. There are also those with changes to their heart or kidneys as a result of high blood pressure. Those patients should see a cardiologist or, if appropriate, a nephrologist, Dr. Giaimo says.
Can high blood pressure be a symptom of something else? ›
In about 1 in 10 cases, high blood pressure happens as the result of an underlying health condition or taking a certain medicine. Health conditions that can cause high blood pressure include: kidney disease. diabetes.
Does high blood pressure mean my kidneys are failing? ›
High blood pressure is one of the major causes of chronic kidney disease. And kidney disease can also cause high blood pressure. No matter which came first, having high blood pressure damages the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys.
Does 150/80 require medication? ›
120 to 129/less than 80 (Elevated): You probably don't need medication. 130/80 to 139/89 (stage 1 hypertension): You might need medication. 140/90 or higher (stage 2 hypertension): You probably need medication.
Can high blood pressure go back to normal? ›
While there is no cure for high blood pressure, it is important for patients to take steps that matter, such as making effective lifestyle changes and taking BP-lowering medications as prescribed by their physicians.
What should I do if my blood pressure is 150/90? ›
If it's high, you and your doctor will set a blood pressure goal. You can achieve that goal in different ways, like eating a healthy diet, exercising for at least 30 minutes a day, quitting smoking, eating less than 1,500 milligrams of salt per day, and using programs like meditation and yoga to relieve your stress.
Can drinking cold water lower your blood pressure? ›
Drinking cold water or cold carbonated water for orthostatic pre-syncope may increase blood pressure and improve baroreflex function.
How to bring down blood pressure quickly? ›
Tricks to Lower Blood Pressure Instantly
- Meditate or focus on deep breathing. Meditation and breathing exercises can help you relax, which slows your heart rate and lowers your blood pressure.
- Reduce your stress levels. ...
- Take a warm bath or shower.
Water aids the digestive system, helps prevent constipation, flushes toxins from the body, promotes good kidney function, keeps your joints and muscles lubricated, supports healthier and younger-looking skin, and helps regulate body temperature.
How do you know if you're drinking too much water? ›
For most people, dehydration is the much greater issue. However, if you suspect you may be overhydrated, look for symptoms like cloudy thinking, nausea and vomiting, muscle weakness, spasms or cramps and headaches. In severe cases symptoms could include mental confusion, seizures, unconsciousness and even coma.
