Hypertension Frequently Asked Questions

What is hypertension?

Blood pressure is the force placed on the walls of the blood vessels by the blood. It is a measure of how hard your heart is working to push blood around your body.

Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure. This means that the heart is working to hard to push blood around the body.



What are the symptoms of hypertension?

There are no symptoms of hypertension, which is why it is important to be screened regularly if you are at risk.

Regular screening for yourself and your family can help ensure that everyone can live a long and healthy life.



What are the complications of hypertension? Why should I seek treatment?

Untreated hypertension can lead to serious complications or even death. These complications include heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.

Treatment and constant monitoring by a healthcare professional can help reduce the risk of more serious complications. Be sure to get regular treatment to ensure you remain healthy for yourself and your family.



What is the treatment for hypertension?

Treatment for hypertension depends on the severity of the disease.

  • For mild patients – hypertension can generally be treated by adjusting diet and increasing exercise
  • For more moderate or severe patients – there are medications that can be taken in addition to diet and exercise to help reduce blood pressure
  • For those with other disease causing the blood pressure to go up, the disease is treated



What are the risk factors / causes of hypertension?

There is no single cause of hypertension, but there are many factors that can increase your risk. These include:

  • High age (35 years in men, 45 years in women)
  • High salt diet
  • Sedentary lifestyle/Obesity
  • Smoking
  • High stress
  • Family history
  • Underlying medical conditions

If you have any of these risk factors, you should be screened for hypertension regularly. You can visit Jacaranda for hypertension screenings.