Arterial hypertension is the increased blood pressure inside the wall of the large arteries of the body.

Blood pressure is recorded with two numbers, e. g. 150/95 and measured in millimetres of mercury column.

The larger number is the "systolic" pressure, known as the "high" pressure, and the smaller number records the "diastolic" pressure, known as the "low" pressure.

Arterial hypertension occurs in people in whom either their systolic pressure is recorded ≥ 140 mm of mercury column, or their diastolic pressure is ≥ 90 mm of mercury column.

Arterial hypertension usually affects adults and causes numerous diseases in the long term.

One in three adults worldwide have hypertension, so they have an increased risk of complications such as coronary heart disease and heart attacks, vascular strokes and kidney failure.

In our country the percentage of the population suffering from arterial hypertension is on average 20%.

The percentage of men in the general population is 17. 71% and of women 22. 49%, according to a report of the Hellenic Statistical Authority for 2012.

The likelihood of developing arterial hypertension increases with age. In the elderly over 65 years of age, hypertension reaches 50% of this population.

Hypertension is a condition that accounts for 50% of all deaths from vascular stroke and heart disease worldwide.

If left unregulated, hypertension can also cause cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and vision loss.

The risk of complications is generally higher if other diseases or conditions that affect the vessels (diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, smoking) coexist.

In 95% of cases, arterial hypertension is due to idiopathic causes, i. e. hereditary causes, obesity, long-term increased salt intake, sedentary lifestyle, etc..

It usually occurs after the age of 30 years, but may rarely occur in children. In other cases, arterial hypertension is caused by another disease (secondary), which when successfully treated treats itself.

Such diseases that cause secondary hypertension are chronic kidney disease, sleep apnea, renal artery stenosis and adrenal gland diseases, etc..

Hypertension very often causes no symptoms and is therefore usually diagnosed late, or when complications have already occurred.

The patient may sometimes report symptoms such as dizziness, headache, or nosebleeds, but these are not attributed to arterial hypertension in general.

To date, there are encouraging results on the value of prevention in the development of hypertension, through the avoidance of aggravating risk factors and the adoption of a healthy diet and exercise.

More specifically, the risk of developing hypertension can be reduced through:

• Reduced salt intake
• A diet rich in vegetables and fruits
• Avoiding alcohol abuse
• Regular physical activity
• Maintaining normal body weight
• Avoidance of smoking

Regular measurement of blood pressure in adults can lead to early diagnosis and early treatment of hypertensive disease.

This is of particular value, especially in people belonging to high-risk groups, in which multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease are found (people with heredity, overweight patients, smokers, people with elevated blood lipids)..

The availability of multiple antihypertensive medications and effective control of arterial hypertension to normal levels reduces the risk of vascular stroke by about 40%, coronary heart disease by about 25% and heart failure by 50%.

Close monitoring by your doctor and the adoption of all the above healthy habits also help to further reduce blood pressure levels and have multiple benefits for the body.

• In the initial period after diagnosis, in order to confirm the diagnosis, perform a specific investigation and select the appropriate treatment to achieve satisfactory pressure regulation, visits to the doctor are made every few weeks.
• People with well-regulated pressure should be monitored regularly by their doctor, usually every 6 months.
• People with additional health problems (high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, smoking, advanced arteriosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, difficult-to-regulate hypertension, etc.) should be monitored by a doctor every 2 or 3 months.