LIFESTYLE RELATED

DISEASES
BY: RHODA A. ABA-A ,RN
NURSE II/NDP (DOH-CHDNM)
 WHAT IS HYPERTENSION?

• Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure

(Blood pressure- Blood pressure is the force blood puts on the arteries as it flows through them. It is
measured in units of millimeters of mercury (mmHg). )

- is a serious medical condition wherein the

blood moves at a higher pressure than normal.
It is a silent killer because it has no warning
symptoms and is often left undiagnosed for many.
Can blood pressure spike for no reason?

The blood pressure in the body changes routinely during the day as it reacts and adapts to the
environment around it. Blood pressure is affected by the diurnal variation, the routine day/night
cycle the body experiences, by emotional and physical stresses of routine daily activity and
exercise, by food and drink, and by medication.

•White coat hypertension is the patient’s equivalent of performance anxiety. The worry that
accompanies having blood pressure measured, either at a doctor’s office or even at home, may
cause blood pressure readings to rise, as a normal response to a surge of adrenaline in the body.

•Labile hypertension describes the situation where blood pressure increases for a brief period of
time due to an outside stress, like anxiety, exercise, or trauma. The rise in blood pressure is short
lived.
 WHAT COUNTS AS
HYPERTENSION?
• You have hypertension if your blood pressure reading in the
automated BP device is:
Systolic- force exerted on your vessels while the heart is contracting or squeezing.
Diastolic- force exerted on your vessels between heartbeats while the heart is relaxing.

•High systolic reading: Increases the risk of heart disease. Systolic blood pressure is linked to heart attacks,
heart failure, kidney disease and overall mortality.

•High diastolic reading: Increases the risk of aortic disease. The aorta carries blood and oxygen from the heart to
the abdomen and chest. People with an elevated diastolic reading are more prone to developing
abdominal aortic aneurysm, an enlargement of the aorta that can lead to rupture and a high risk of death.

Stage 1-single drug, lifestyle and diet modification

Stage 2- double drug combination , lifestyle and diet modification
 WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF
HYPERTENSION?
If symptoms do occur, these are:
● Morning headaches
● Nosebleeds
● Irregular heart rhythm
● Changes in vision
● Buzzing in the ears
ARE THERE MORE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS OR
COMPLICATIONS FROM HYPERTENSION?
Enlarged Heart
As it works harder to move blood around, the muscle of your heart thickens. As a result, your whole heart gets larger. The bigger it
gets, the less able it is to do its job, which means your tissues might not get the oxygen and nutrients they need.

Stroke
• Hemorrhagic: A weakened artery bursts in the brain.
• Ischemic: A clump, or "clot," of plaque comes loose and blocks blood flow to brain cells.

Part of your brain starts to die when it doesn't get enough blood. After 10 minutes without oxygen , brain death occurs. This can
hurt your ability to think, move, speak, and see. For symptoms, remember FAST:
Face drooping?
Arm weakness?
Speech problems?
Time to call 911.

DEMENTIA
HBP can cause plaque buildup in arteries that supply your brain. The clogging of those arteries can slow the flow of blood to the
rest of your body. When it changes the way your brain works, it's called "vascular dementia."
It might affect how well you think, speak, see, remember -- even the way you move. This usually happens slowly over time. But if
you have a stroke, you could notice symptoms very quickly.
Kidney Failure
High blood pressure is the second-leading cause of kidney failure. It narrows and hardens the blood
vessels your kidneys use to help get rid of waste and extra fluid. That keeps special filters, called
nephrons, from getting enough blood and nutrients. That can eventually shut down your kidneys
for good.

EYE PROBLEMS
Over time, high blood pressure can slow blood flow to the retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue
at the back of the eyeball. It can also slow the travel of blood to the optic nerve, which helps send
signals to your brain. Either may blur your vision, or in some cases make it go away. HBP might
also cause fluid to build under your retina. That could scar the tissue and distort your vision.

Bone Loss
People with high blood pressure often have more calcium in their urine. It may be that HBP causes
your body to get rid of too much of this mineral that's so important to strong bones. This can lead
to breaks or fractures, especially in older women.
 WHAT INCREASES MY RISK OF
GETTING HYPERTENSION?
There are many factors:
1. Higher than usual blood pressure
2. Lifestyle choices
● Too much salt and sugar
● No to little exercise
● Overweight/obesity
3. Too much alcohol or cigarettes
4. Family history of hypertension
5. Being over 65 years old
6. Comorbidities such as diabetes or
kidney disease
 What should I do to prevent getting hypertension?

Blood pressure control is a lifelong commitment to help minimize the risk of complications like
heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Over that lifetime, treatment may add or
subtract medications, but non-medication treatments will always be necessary.

How do you lower blood pressure without medications?

Keeping high blood pressure under control decreases the risk of developing many diseases. It is a
lifelong commitment to living a healthy lifestyle and may include the following:

•Weight loss BMI-wt (kgs)/ht (m)/h (m) normal- 18.5 to 25.9

is key to blood pressure control in those who are obese. Blood pressure will fall up to 2 mmHg for
every 1 kg (2.2 pounds) lost.
•Aerobic exercise for 40 minutes, 3-4 times per week, plus resistance training (weightlifting and
isometrics) will result in lower blood pressure readings within 12 weeks.
•Diet- Sodium, a chemical found in salt, raises blood pressure by promoting the retention of fluid by
the body.
• A low salt diet will significantly lower blood pressure. The effect is most pronounced in the
middle-aged or elderly, but the beneficial effects of the low sodium diet are seen in all people
regardless of age, sex, race, diabetes, or body mass index. The effect is then whether a
person takes blood pressure medication or not.
• Potassium supplement in the diet may be helpful in controlling blood pressure. However,
this should be avoided in those with kidney disease, or who are taking medications that
affect potassium excretion in the body.
• The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a healthy diet that can help
control blood pressure.
• high in vegetables, fruits and nuts, fish and poultry, and low-fat dairy
• low in added sugar and red meat and cholesterol
• rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, protein, and fiber
• low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol.
•Limiting alcohol intake
• Men with hypertension should have a maximum of two drinks per day.
• Women with hypertension should have only one drink per day maximum.
 WHAT IF I AM DIAGNOSED WITH
HYPERTENSION, WHAT IS THERE TO DO?
If you’re diagnosed with hypertension,
you can still manage your health and
lead a long life. Just follow these simple
tips:
● Lifestyle check: move more, eat right!
● Less mental stress
● Check your blood pressure regularly
● Take your maintenance medications
 The different classes of medication include the following:
Calcium channel blockers
•Calcium helps heart muscle contract (squeeze) strongly and narrows arteries. These medications block calcium
from entering heart and artery cells. This allows the heart to squeeze less aggressively and arteries to relax and
dilate.
•E.g., amlodipine, diltiazem, nicardipine
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
•Angiotensin is made in the liver and then converted in the kidneys to cause blood vessels to narrow.
Ace inhibitors relax blood vessels causing blood pressure to lower.
•E.g., lisinopril, enalapril, captopril
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
•These medications block the receptors in heart and artery cells preventing angiotension attaching to those
cells. The effect of the angiotensin is blocked and blood pressure decreases.
•Eg. losartan, valsartab
Diuretics
•These medications cause the kidneys to remove water and salt from the body; less fluid in the arteries and
veins, lowers blood pressure.
•E.g., hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide
Beta blockers
•These medications block the adrenalin receptors in the heart, causing it to beat more slowly and less
aggressively. As well, they cause arteries to dilate.
•E.g., metoprolol, atenolol, nadolol
•Beta blockers are no longer recommended to be used as single drug control of hypertension.