For most patients with high blood pressure, there are few or no symptoms. 
High blood pressure officially affects 27.3 percent of Singapore’s population. But in reality, that number is likely to be far greater. How can we go about treating this silent killer? Dr Kenneth Guo, cardiologist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, explains how hypertension (high blood pressure) is treated:

 

First things first, what is high blood pressure?

Well, as the name suggests, high blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels. If you have high blood pressure, this force is stronger, which means your heart needs to work extra hard to transport blood around your body.

Doctors measure both systolic pressure (the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts) and diastolic pressure (the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes) to determine an accurate blood pressure reading. Normal blood pressure is generally considered to be a systolic pressure of less than 120mmHg and a diastolic pressure of less than 80mmHg.

 

Why is high blood pressure known as the ‘silent killer’?

Most patients with high blood pressure have few or no symptoms, so it can be hard for them to a) recognise they have a problem and b) know whether treatment is working. Symptoms like light-headedness, facial flushing or headaches might only set in when systolic blood pressure rises higher than 160 mmHg or above.

According to the American Heart Association, you should have a high blood pressure screening during every visit to the doctor, or at least every two years, from the age of 20. You’ll need more regular screenings if your blood pressure is higher than 120/80 mmHg.

 

What happens if high blood pressure goes untreated?

High blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. A 40-year-old obese male with a blood pressure of about 141/91 mmHg, for example, will be 6.8 times more likely to have a stroke than a healthy individual.

While the risks increase the worse that high blood pressure gets, they generally improve with treatment. That’s why it’s so important to go for regular check-ups, and seek treatment early.

 

So, how is high blood pressure treated?

Lifestyle changes can be a huge factor when it comes to treating high blood pressure, as is evident by the Ministry of Health’s suggestions for a healthier heart:

Lifestyle measure	Expected decrease in systolic blood pressure (mmHg)
Limiting alcohol intake to less than one unit/day for females and less than two units/day for males	2 to 4
Regular walks for 30min, 5 times a week	4 to 9
Minimising salt intake	2 – 8
Weight management	1 to 2 per kg weight loss
Quitting smoking	1 to 5

 

The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC) released new guidelines in 2014 for the proper management of high blood pressure.

They analysed evidence worldwide to recommend treatment goals for patients living with high blood pressure. For most people, the goal is 140/90mmHg. However, for elderly people, this is usually slightly higher at 150/90mmHg.

Your doctor will help you to set a treatment goal and regularly monitor your progress to help you stay on target.

 

Which medications are used to treat high blood pressure?

Various medication combinations can be used to help treat high blood pressure. These may include:

• Diuretics, which help to reduce the amount of fluid in your arteries.
• Calcium channel blockers, which help to relax your arteries and slow your heart rate.
• ACE-inhibitors, which help to relax your arteries and decrease blood volume.
• Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs), which help to enlarge your arteries.

The combination and concentration of these medications depends entirely on your needs and body type. Some examples of treatment plans include:

• Starting on one drug, with your doctor slowly adjusting the dosage for maximum benefit, before adding a second drug.
• Starting on one drug and then adding a second drug, before your doctor slowly adjusts each dosage for maximum benefit.
• Starting two drugs at the same time, either taking two separate pills or a single pill combination.

The JNC recommends combination therapy for patients with a high blood pressure over 160/100 mmHg, or for elderly patients with a high blood pressure over 170/110mmHg. This has been shown to get the patient on board with their treatment quicker, as well as help them to achieve their treatment goals faster.

 

What about beta-blockers?

You’ve probably heard of beta-blockers – they’re the little pills that help to slow your heart rate by blocking the effects of certain hormones in your system.

But nowadays, they’re not the first port of call when it comes to high blood pressure. This is partly due to a recent study that compared the effects of ARB and beta-blockers in patients aged between 55 and 80 years old, which found that ARB are 13 percent more effective at reducing the risk of death or stroke.

In some parts of the world, like England and Canada, beta-blockers are still a popular first-treatment option for patients under 80. They are also useful for treating other conditions, including:

• Heart disease
• Chronic heart failure
• Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
• Thyrotoxicosis (caused by an overactive thyroid gland)
• Liver cirrhosis (alcohol-related liver disease)
• Migraines

 

How is high blood pressure treated in the elderly?

An uncommonly high systolic pressure together with an uncommonly low diastolic pressure might give a blood pressure reading like 150/70mmHg. This is known as isolated systolic hypertension, and it is particularly common in the elderly.

The most common cause is arteries stiffening with age, but it can also be caused by:

• Anaemia (not enough healthy red blood cells in the body).
• Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland).
• Arteriovenous fistula (an abnormal connection between an artery and vein).
• Severe aortic regurgitation (leaking valves in the heart).

A doctor will explore each of the possible causes before treating the condition. They will also be careful to avoid dropping the diastolic pressure too low with medication.

It’s worth noting that elderly individuals are especially prone to postural hypotension, ie. low blood pressure that occurs when standing up after sitting or lying down. It normally doesn’t last long, but it can make them feel dizzy or even faint. One study found that elderly individuals have a 43-percent higher risk of hip fracture if they fall within the first 45 days of taking high blood pressure medication. If you are worried an elderly relative may be at risk, speak to your doctor.

 

** This article has been reprinted with permission from Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital’s website called health plus.

(PHOTO CREDITS: Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital)

 

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