Q . Is it normal to rise the BP with age?
A. It is the common belief but not true. All the studies shown previously that blood pressure rises with age. But none of the studies took into consideration of the lifestyle of the volunteers for the study. Now with present study with a group with proper lifestyle, no increase of BP with age is found. Dietary restriction, low salt diet and with healthy life styles BP should remain the same with your age, despite of the fact the elasticity of the blood vessels are lessened.
Q. Is hypertension is a hereditary disease?
A. Obesity and hypertension tend to run in families. These are not genetic diseases but a particular set of genes may produce a predilection to these diseases. A person with such predilection and unhealthy lifestyle will develop hypertension very early in life; and on the other hand with healthy habits this person may develop hypertension in mild form or, not at all.
Another very important aspect on higher incidence of hypertension is found in low birth weight babies, particularly so if they become obese in childhood. It is very essential to be careful about diet and stringent medical supervision in the expectant period of the future mother. Incidence of low birth weight babies can be minimized and do take care of your babies’ food habit. Childhood obesity has intimate relationship with hypertension and diabetes in later life.
Q I have hypertension – should I stop taking salt?
A. It is a punishment to have a salt free diet continuously. Though salt sensitive hypertension responds favorably with no salt diet but not all form of hypertension will respond. 60% patients do well with restricted salt intake (means no extra salt other than what is there in normal cooking); so it is standard practice to prescribe salt restricted diet for hypertension.
Q. What happens when there is high BP in pregnancy?
A. Two conditions may present:
1. She was hypertensive before pregnancy and now conceived. In this case the chance of complications of pregnancies and BP can rise further. They should be dealt by the specialists in this field. The dose of the drugs or, the drugs itself may need to be changed for the benefit of both mother and the babies.
2. She was normal and develops hypertension following pregnancy. This may occur in mild. Moderate and severe form. Cause is not yet known and also known as pregnancy induced hypertension or PIH. Previously it is used to be called as pre eclampsia or, toxaemia of pregnancy. The condition is treated by drugs and close supervision and managed according to the severity. Nowadays with modern medication on most of these cases both mother and babies are having favorable outcome. In most cases blood pressure returns to normal 6 weeks after delivery.
Q. Is there any relation of birth control pills (Oral Contraceptive Pill) with high blood pressure?
A. The problem today is much less with very low dose oral pills. Usually the women, who are susceptible to hypertension for their family history, obesity, wrong lifestyles may develop hypertension with pills. This is a warning sign. Though the BP will come down with stopping of pill she should modify her lifestyle to prevent hypertension in later life.
This article is republished in India Study Channel
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