Hypertension - High Blood Pressure
ENGLISH / MALTESE
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels.
The blood vessels are the veins and arteries which deliver blood to your organs.
The pressure must be strong enough to deliver the blood to the whole body.
Your blood pressure increases and decreases throughout the day, and during different activities.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is when your blood pressure is consistently higher than normal.
“1 in every 5 (20%) people living in Malta suffers from hypertension (high blood pressure)”
What causes high blood pressure?
In most cases, high blood pressure occurs without a clear cause. However, it is commonly associated with a poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle. Alcohol, smoking, obesity and physical inactivity all increase your risk of developing hypertension.
High blood pressure is also more commonly diagnosed at an older age and in people who are of black African or black Caribbean descent.
Less commonly, it can be caused by another disease, such as sleep apnoea, altered hormone levels, kidney disease or diabetes. This is known as secondary hypertension.
How can I check my blood pressure?
You can check your blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer.
This refers to a cuff, which is attached to a digital monitor. The cuff is wrapped around your arm and inflated.
Measuring your blood pressure is completely painless, however, you might feel pressure and some numbness as the cuff inflates.
The monitor gives two readings, which refer to the systolic (highest number) and diastolic (lowest number) pressure. The unit used for blood pressure is mmHg.
Systolic pressure refers to when your heart beats and pumps blood to the body.
Diastolic pressure refers to when your heart is relaxing.
What is normal blood pressure?
Normal blood pressure is lower than 140mmHg systolic and lower than 90mmHg diastolic.
The target blood pressure for diabetics should be lower than 130mmHg systolic and lower than 80mmHg diastolic.
Values higher than these are considered high, however, numerous readings must be obtained to diagnose high blood pressure.
A test to help doctors diagnose hypertension is a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor. This is when you are sent home with a cuff attached and regular readings are taken over 24 hours.
You can check your blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer.
This is a photo of one the Malta Heart Foundation volunteers doing a blood pressure check during one of our health drives.
When should I check my blood pressure?
Blood pressure is often referred to as the ‘silent’ killer. This is because there are often no associated symptoms.
It is advisable to check your blood pressure when you visit your doctor.
You can also go to your local health centre.
You may choose to buy your own sphygmomanometer from local medical shops or online and keep a record yourself to show your doctor; they are not as expensive as you think.
Why is high blood pressure bad for me?
High blood pressure increases the workload on your heart and blood vessels, making them work harder but less efficient.
As time passes, this higher pressure damages the inside wall of the blood vessels.
Fatty material and cholesterol begin to deposit in the vessel walls as they become narrower and narrower. This is known as atherosclerosis.
This narrowing, in turn, further increases the pressure.
This continuous cycle harms many vessels all around your body and can lead to conditions such as heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, vision loss, kidney failure, and even sexual dysfunction.
How can I control my blood pressure?
Lifestyle changes may be the solution. This includes:
Maintain a healthy diet
Stop smoking- Local smoking cessation services are available, and you can always ask your family doctor for advice
Control blood sugar levels (in the case of diabetic patients).
Reduce alcohol consumption.
Remain physically active - Taking the stairs instead of the lift, walking to local shops instead of taking the car. It is recommended to do around 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week.
Control cholesterol levels.
Maintain a healthy weight.
If these lifestyle changes are not enough in managing your blood pressure, your doctor will prescribe medication.
Take-Home Messages
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is often silent.
Check your blood pressure before it causes irreversible damage.
Ask your family doctor for advice.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent high blood pressure and reduce other complications.
HELP AND SUPPORT
If you have any questions regarding our article, feel free to contact us on info@maltaheartfoundation.org or on our Facebook page.
This article was authored by Dr. Mathias Abela and edited by Dr. Neil Grech, in collaboration with the Malta Heart Foundation and Maltese Cardiac Society.