Understanding the Classification of Hypertension and Risk Factors that Influence

Most people only know hypertension or high blood pressure in general. But actually, there are several levels of hypertension based on blood pressure they experience. To determine the level of hypertension, it is necessary to measure blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer.

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When checking blood pressure, we need to measure systolic and diastolic values. Based on 2017 hypertension guidelines, blood pressure is classified as follows:

• Normal blood pressure: systolic less than 120 mmHg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg. Sometimes a little higher. It is considered normal if there are no risk factors for cardiovascular disease and/or early signs that indicate cardiovascular disease.
• High blood pressure: systolic 120-129 mmHg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg.
• Stage I hypertension: systolic 130-139 mmHg or diastolic 80-89 mmHg. It is considered prehypertension if coupled with signs of disturbance in the heart and small arteries. In this condition, there are several risk factors for cardiovascular disease and there are already early signs of the disease, but no organ damage has occurred.
• Stage II hypertension: systolic ≥140 mmHg or diastolic ≥90 mmHg. In fact, blood pressure can be even higher if coupled with the presence of psychological and physiological pressure. There may be signs of damage to the organ.
• Hypertensive crisis: systolic more than 180 mmHg and or diastolic more than 120 mmHg (patients need appropriate medication changes if there is no indication of a problem, or are hospitalized immediately if there are signs of organ damage)

Risk factors for hypertension

If your blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg, then you are at the threshold for the classification of hypertension. At this level of hypertension does not necessarily require special care and treatment. Especially, if your body is healthy and you have no risk factors.

If your blood pressure is for example only 120/75 but you have risk factors, you may need treatment and treatment of hypertension.

Increasing age is one of the risk factors for hypertension. In women, high blood pressure usually occurs at the age of 65 years. Meanwhile, in men starting at the age of 45 years.

Several chronic disease conditions are also considered risk factors for hypertension, including diabetes, sleep disorders, and kidney disease. For those of you who have family members who have hypertension, the risk factors will increase.

In addition, there are several other risk factors that are heavily influenced by lifestyle, such as:

• Stress; When you are stressed, you will be depressed so that your blood pressure also rises. In the end, it has the potential to lead to hypertension.
• Vitamin D deficiency: The kidneys produce enzymes that affect blood pressure. Vitamin D deficiency can affect the workings of these enzymes, thereby increasing blood pressure.
• Too much salt consumption; Salt that is in our body is holding fluid. The burden of the work of the heart and blood vessels will increase, if in our body too much fluid so that it can eventually increase blood pressure.
• Potassium deficiency; Potassium is an element that functions to control and help reduce salt in the body. When our bodies are deficient in potassium, the body cannot reduce salt levels, so a lot of the fluid that is retained and eventually increases blood pressure.
• Overweight; The body needs blood to supply oxygen. The more bodyweight, the more blood is needed. Therefore, the more blood that passes through the blood vessels, the higher the pressure on the walls of the arteries which means blood pressure increases.
• Lazy to move; People who are active routinely such as exercising or many, lower heart rate or calmer than those who are not physically active. The higher the heart rate, the harder the heart works, and the stronger the pressure on the artery walls.

These risk factors also influence the increase in blood pressure. Do not ignore these risk factors, to prevent you from experiencing hypertension. Perform regular blood pressure checks and consult with doctors about the results and actions needed.

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