High blood pressure is an increasing concern of 21st century. This is a silent killer that has been associated with heart disease and strokes. According to the American Heart Association, coronary heart disease is the number one cause of death in United States and the major factor leading to heart disease is high blood pressure. Hence, all concerns related to hypertension are valid. This disease, if not treated on time, can have fatal consequences. So much so that when untreated it can shorten a person’s life by 20 years. Its potential risks are greater because unlike other diseases, it has very few outward symptoms. In fact, most times the sufferer is not even aware that he has high blood pressure until his condition worsens. Due to all these reasons, the earlier standards of blood pressure have been lowered now to 115/75 mm hg. This pre high blood pressure level is considered comparatively safe for the patient.

When blood pressure is higher than 140/90, then it is called primary or essential hypertension. Some of its underlying causes are high alcohol consumption, high sodium intake, stress, obesity, genetics, indigested dietary potassium and chronic kidney disease. People suffering from primary hypertension rarely experience symptoms.

Another type of hypertension is called accelerated hypertension because in it the blood pressure rises suddenly. This is a rare but life threatening condition and requires immediate treatment. If a person is fortunate, he may experience some symptoms like drowsiness, headache, nausea and loss of vision. A sharp shooting pain in the left hand is another strong symptom of accelerated hypertension and is felt due to rapid shaking or numbness in the fingers.

Hypertension can lead to angina as it has considerable effects on the heart and circulatory system.

Pain in the left arm or hand is a symptom of angina problem and hints at a disease in the circulatory organs, especially the heart. The pain begins at a lower intensity and becomes more intense and frequent gradually. The erratic pattern and functioning of blood pressure levels contributes to the condition called angina pectoris which affects the heart and the aorta. This is a dangerously fatal condition.

The best way to catch the onset of hypertension is by checking your blood pressure regularly. Visit a doctor immediately if your blood pressure is above the normal limit and follow his advice. A proper diagnosis can help to prevent the disease. Besides, a balanced diet, regular exercise, avoiding smoking and stress and getting proper sleep are some effective preventive measures.

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