Blood pressure (BP) is
the measurement of how
hard your blood is
pushing against the
inside of your blood
vessels (arteries).
A certain amount of
pressure is needed to
carry the blood through
your body. However, if
that pressure is too
great, you have high
blood pressure
(hypertension).
Around 1 in 5
Singaporeans aged 18 to
69 years have
hypertension. The
trend increases with
age. In the 60 -
69 years age group, more
than 1 in 2 persons have
hypertension.
Hypertension is often
called the “silent
killer” as there may not
be any symptoms even
though the condition is
severe. Headaches
or giddiness, which is
also present in other
diseases, are not
specific symptoms of
hypertension.
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Major risk factors that
cannot be
changed:
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Family history
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Males
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Older people
The risk of developing
hypertension is
increased with:
These risk factors
can be changed by
adopting a healthy
lifestyle.
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Classifications
of Blood
Pressure |
The heart is the main
organ that pumps blood
round the body.
When it contracts, it is
called systolic
pressure. When it
relaxes, it is called
diastolic pressure.
If your blood pressure
(BP) is 120/80, the
systolic BP is 120mmHg
and the diastolic BP is
80mmHg (mmHg denotes
millimetre of mercury).
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Normal Reading |
: 120/80 |
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Pre-hypertension |
: 120/80 -
139/89
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Stage 1 |
: 140/90 to
159/99 |
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Stage 2 |
: >160/100
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Factors
Affecting Blood
Pressure |
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Anxiety, excitement
or fear
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Tea, coffee, cola or
smoking
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Hard and narrow
blood vessels
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Medications for
High Blood
Pressure |
A. Diuretics
Diuretics help get rid
of water from your body
Example:
Hydrochlorthiazide
Side Effects:
Frequent passing of
urine, tiredness,
giddiness
B. Calcium Channel
Blockers
These drugs cause your
blood vessels to become
wider so that blood
flows through them more
easily
Examples:
Nifedipine , Norvasc
Side Effects:
Headaches, flushing, leg
swelling, constipation
C. Beta Blockers
This group of medicine
causes your heart to
beat a little more
slowly and so lowers
your blood pressure
Examples:
Propranolol, Atenolol
Side Effects:
Depression, giddiness,
disturbed sleep
D. Angiotension
Converting Enzyme (Ace)
This drug causes blood
vessels to become wider
so that blood flows
through them more easily
Examples:
Captopril, Enalapril (Renitec)
Side Effects:
Cough, postural
hypertension, eye
swelling
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Medication is
important in the
management of high
blood pressure.
Take them as
directed by
your doctor.
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Eat healthy.
Follow a low fat,
low salt, low sugar
and high fibre diet.
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Restrict sodium
intake to less than
2g per day (1
teaspoonful of
salt).
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When reading food
label, choose food that
contain less than
0.1g of sodium per
100g.
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Measure
blood pressure (BP) at least
once a day.
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To obtain an accurate reading of BP:
- Use
a validated, well maintained BP monitor
- Use
appropriate cuff size
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Avoid tea, coffee, cola or smoking ½ hour before
checking BP
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After exercise : rest for at least 20 minutes
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Click here for tips in using an electronic BP
monitor
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Keep a record of the
person’s BP readings
and bring along this
record every time
you see your doctor.
The following
detail must be
included:
- date
and time of measurement
-
systolic and diastolic pressures
- dose
of any medicine
- any
unusual event that could affect the BP e.g. a
fall
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Avoid drinking
alcohol.
However, if the
person drinks
alcohol, moderate
consumption to no
more than two
standard drinks per
day (for woman) and
three standard
drinks per day (for
man). A
standard drink is
defined as 220 ml of
beer, 100 ml of wine
or 30 ml of spirits.
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Discourage smoking if the
person smokes.
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Encourage regular exercises at least 30 minutes
a day, 5 days a week. Increase physical
activities help to burn more calories.
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Advise on losing
weight if the person
is overweight or
obese. Seek
professional advise
for weight
management.
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Complications of
High Blood
Pressure |
High blood pressure
makes the heart work
harder and
consequently
damaging the blood
vessels throughout
the body. Untreated
high blood pressure
gradually damages
body organs. Lowering blood
pressure can reduce
the following
complications:
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Stroke - lack of
blood supply to the
brain
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Heart attack -
lack of blood supply
to the heart muscle
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Heart failure -
the heart muscle
becomes too weak to
pump blood to the
whole body
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Kidney failure –
damage of blood
vessels in the
kidneys
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Blindness - damage
of optical nerves
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