Causes of sudden onset high blood pressure

What is blood pressure? It refers to the force exerted by the blood against the artery walls when the heart pumps blood. When the force is too high, it starts affecting the body. Knowing the causes of high blood pressure will help in maintaining the blood pressure at normal levels and leading a healthy life.

Blood pressure readings consist of two values – systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.

Systolic blood pressure – This is the first value, it is the measure of pressure within your arteries (blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from your heart to other parts of your body) when your heartbeats. 

Diastolic blood pressure – This is the second value, it is the measure of pressure within the arteries when your heart rests between beats.

Normal BP – 120 mmHg/80 mmHg or less than that 

• Elevated BP – The systolic values are between 120 and 129 mmHg and the diastolic values are less than 80 mmHg.
• High BP (stage 1) – The systolic values fall in the range 130 – 139 mmHg or the diastolic values fall in the range 80 – 89 mmHg.
• High BP (stage 2) – The systolic values are 140 mmHg or higher or the diastolic values 90 mmHg or higher. 
• Hypertensive crisis – The systolic values are higher than 180 and/or the diastolic higher than 120 mmHg. 

A constant high blood pressure reading in most cases may indicate a severe underlying issue that needs to be identified to prevent further heart-related complications. In case of a hypertensive crisis, you should seek medical help immediately.

The diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure involve monitoring the levels at home with frequent healthcare visits. In addition, your doctor might recommend a diet to lower blood pressure and prescribe medications and lifestyle changes.

Blood pressure is calculated by measuring the force exerted by the circulating blood against the walls of your arteries by an instrument called sphygmomanometer or BP apparatus. It can be a manual device or a battery-operated digital apparatus.

There are many easy-to-use that can be used to measure your BP at home. There are two main types of BP monitors available in India:

Manual BP monitors – These devices include a cuff that is wrapped around your upper arm, a rubber squeeze bulb to inflate it manually and a gauge that measures the blood pressure and reflects it as a rise or fall in the mercury column. A stethoscope is used to listen to the sounds – Korotkoff sounds are generated when a blood pressure cuff changes the flow of blood through the artery. If operated correctly, they give accurate results. They are less expensive than digital BP monitors.

Digital BP monitors – They consist of a small screen on which your BP and pulse readings are displayed. They have an error indicator, too. The inflation and deflation of the cuff are automatic, making them easier to use than manual BP monitors. Body movements and irregular heartbeats affect the accuracy of the results Hence, they should be used in the correct way.

Typically, 120/80 is seen as normal but it varies from person to person. It’s best to consult your doctor to understand your blood pressure normal range. Athletes can have lower blood pressure since their cardiovascular system is more efficient and pumps a larger volume of blood with lesser effort.

If your blood pressure is higher than normal, it means that your heart is working harder to pump blood through the body. With higher blood pressure the arteries are also under greater strain and can get damaged, especially at stage 1 hypertension or higher.

It is found that women may experience changes in blood pressure due to circumstances such as menopause and pregnancy. Furthermore, studies have also shown that birth control pills may cause fluctuations from the normal blood pressure for women.

Blood pressure outside the normal range, especially higher than normal, could indicate narrowing arteries, high levels of stress, irregular sleep, insufficient exercise or poor diet. In certain cases, blood pressure rises due to other factors like side effects from medication or illness.

Even when you are pregnant, normal blood pressure would be within the range of 90 – 120 systolic and 60 – 80 diastolic. However, blood pressure fluctuations are common during pregnancy. Get a BP monitor device and consult your doctor on how to manage your blood pressure when it rises. The target range of blood pressure may vary for different individuals, understand this from your doctor and try to maintain your BP in the prescribed range.

If you had hypertension before your pregnancy or if you develop hypertension in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, you may have chronic hypertension that is not related to your pregnancy.
Hypertension related to the pregnancy usually develops after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy This usually goes away after giving birth. However, developing hypertension during pregnancy usually increases the risk of hypertension in the future. Hypertension during pregnancy can be an indication of Preeclampsia – a complication during pregnancy that can be identified by signs like – rise in BP, swelling on hands and feet, protein in the urine, headache and dizziness. That’s why it is important to follow up regularly with your doctor, take a good diet and exercise moderately while you are pregnant.
Generally, the blood pressure in men is higher than in women of similar ages. However, BP ranges in men and women depending on several factors like their age, underlying medical conditions and the medications they take. So, it is advisable to consult your doctor to check if your blood pressure is normal.

There are two main types of high BP – primary and secondary hypertension.

Essential or primary high BP happens in most adults and the cause is usually vague or unknown. It is a type of hypertension that tends to develop over many years.

Secondary hypertension is a type of hypertension that is caused due to an underlying condition. It can happen suddenly, causing high BP and then primary hypertension. Several reasons for high blood pressure are kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid problems, adrenal gland tumours, illegal drugs, certain drugs like cold remedies, birth control pills, etc.

Isolated systolic hypertension – It is a systolic BP with above 140 mmHg and under 90 mmHg for diastolic BP. It is more common in older adults and it is reported that have isolated systolic hypertension.

Resistant hypertension – This high BP parameter is not easy to control and needs several medications. People with high blood pressure readings are said to have resistant hypertension when the BP stays above the target level of the treatment. About with high BP have resistant hypertension.

Malignant hypertension – Malignant hypertension occurs when high diastolic blood pressure symptoms cause damage to organs. It is an emergency condition and has readings higher than 180/120 mmHg.

White Coat Hypertension – A condition when BP increases in a hospital set up or due to the fear of doctor around. That is why it is advised to monitor and record BP at home as well as in the clinic.