5 Stages of Hypertension: Understanding the Process of Hypertension.
Hypertension is generally known as high blood pressure. It is one of the most common health conditions in the United States, with an estimated 30% of American adults having hypertension. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute estimates that 7 out of 10 cases of hypertension go undiagnosed. As the population ages, the risk for developing hypertension increases. Hypertension can lead to serious health problems like heart disease and stroke. This blog explores the five stages of hypertension - from normal blood pressure to end-stage kidney disease.
The Normal Blood Pressure
Range
The normal blood pressure range is usually 120/80 mm Hg. The "normal" blood pressure does not take into account the person's age, gender, or race, but rather reflects the typical blood pressure reading for a healthy individual.
Pre-hypertension
Pre-hypertension is when your blood pressure is higher than normal, but not enough to be high blood pressure. A person who has pre-hypertension has a systolic pressure between 120 and 139 or a diastolic pressure of 80-89. Because pre-hypertension doesn't cause any symptoms, it's often hard to know you have it.
As the incidence of hypertension increases in the population, more people will progress to pre-hypertension before they develop high blood pressure. The key to managing both types of hypertension is early diagnosis.
Stage 1 hypertension
Hypertension is a global issue; in the United States, approximately 30% of adults suffer from hypertension and 7 out of 10 cases go undiagnosed. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute estimates that 1 in 3 people will develop hypertension by age 75.
Hypertension typically begins with stage 1 hypertension. Normal blood pressure ranges from 120/80 to 140/90 mm Hg at rest and can fluctuate during the day depending on activity level. Stage 1 hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure (the top number) at or above 140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) below 90 mm Hg.
Possible symptoms of stage 1 hypertension include headaches, blurred vision, nosebleeds, chest pain, and heart palpitations. If any of these symptoms occur for an extended period or more than once a week contact your physician immediately.
Stage 2 hypertension
: The early stages of hypertension
The normal range of blood pressure is 120/80. Stage 2 hypertension begins when your blood pressure reaches 140/90 or higher.
During stage 2, the body is showing signs of stress. This means the kidneys are working harder to filter out excess fluid from the body. This can lead to fluid buildup in the ankles, weight gain, and swollen hands. Additionally, it could make you feel dizzy when you stand up quickly or when lying down to sleep at night.
Stage 2 hypertension increases your risk for heart disease and stroke significantly. Fortunately, there are ways to help combat this condition with lifestyle changes that could reduce your blood pressure back to a healthy level. At this stage, it's important to monitor your blood pressure regularly and take medications as prescribed by your doctor if necessary.
Stage 3 hypertension
Most people with hypertension are unaware of their condition. In fact, there are over 7 million people in the United States who have high blood pressure and don't even know it. Hypertension can be difficult to diagnose because it often doesn't have any symptoms early on.
Stage 3 hypertension is when systolic pressure is between 140-159 mmHg or when diastolic pressure is between 90-99 mmHg. Typical symptoms include increased heart rate, headache, blurry vision, and chest pain.
Symptoms in stage three hypertension are typical but not exclusive to the disease. This is one reason why it's important to get a diagnosis from your physician if you think you may have hypertension. Your doctor will diagnose the condition by checking your blood pressure and listening to your heartbeat. They will also ask questions about your lifestyle habits to see if they may contribute to blood pressure levels—like diet, exercise habits, smoking status, alcohol consumption, or family history of hypertension. If you're diagnosed with stage 3 hypertension, your doctor will suggest treatment options for you that range from medication changes or dietary changes to weight loss surgery or even cutting out caffeine altogether!
Stage 4 hypertension
Stage 4 hypertension is the most advanced stage of the condition. The kidneys are usually damaged, and the patient will often experience kidney disease. Stage 4 is also known as end-stage kidney disease.
Patients with stage 4 hypertension will require dialysis or a kidney transplant to live. People with this stage of hypertension should not be on any medications for blood pressure unless they are required to maintain their current health status. For example, if a person with an end-stage kidney has an infection, he or she may need to take antibiotics and may need to take certain medications for high blood pressure that would normally be withheld due to side effects.
The National Kidney Foundation estimates that about 9 million Americans currently have end-stage kidney disease and many more people are at risk for developing it. It can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and getting regular screenings for blood pressure and diabetes (which can lead to kidney disease).
End-stage kidney disease.
End-stage kidney disease involves severe damage to the kidneys, with 90% of kidney function lost. This can lead to fluid retention, which can cause high blood pressure, and eventually lead to congestive heart failure.
The most common cause of end-stage kidney disease is diabetes mellitus, but other causes include the following:
1) Kidney diseases - Diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease. Other chronic kidney diseases that can lead to this stage include polycystic kidney disease, chronic glomerulonephritis, acute interstitial nephritis, and chronic pyelonephritis.
2) Other diseases - Certain other diseases are also associated with end-stage kidney disease. These include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), amyloidosis, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), sarcoidosis, HIV infection, and primary amyloidosis.
3) Medication side effects - Certain medications can also lead to end-stage kidney disease if taken over a long duration of time. These medications include lithium therapy for bipolar disorder; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).