Hypertension Blog

Depression is a mental abnormality in which the patient feels sad and worry. The mental manifestations are because of the chemical disturbances in the brain which enables the brain cells to communicate with each other. The various forms of treatment are recommended for depression depending upon the seriousness of depression. If the depression is mild then Psychotherapy is suggested In this treatment only a proper counseling is provided to the patients. It generally requires eight to twelve sitting with the patient. The other way of treating the patient is with the help of the medicines. There are two subcategories in the medicinal treatment. The first category involves the allopathic medicine treatment. The main medicines suggested in these categories are of Benzodiazepines and SSRI class. But these medicines have sever side effects because these drugs can either cause other physical disorders in the patient or the patient can get addicted of these drugs. So another class of medicines called Herbal remedy is selected. This medicines have gained so much popularity in recent years because these have no side effects. St. Johns Wort Extract helps to change the mood of patient in a positive manner. The results of these drugs are very fast. This drug can be taken in the form of tea, oil and capsules. The sunlight can destroy the effects of these drugs. So these must be kept at a cool and dark place, The other natural herbal supplements are ginseng and Kava Kava. The herbal supplements helps in increasing the power of immune system so the body can fight with diseases like depression in an efficient manner. Vitamin B12, B6, Calcium Citrate, Omega three fatty acids are helpful in providing control in mental abnormalities. So these can be taken in the form of a herb for depression and Anxiety relief.

Hypertension is sometimes called the “silent killer” because many people don’t know they have it. If left untreated, chronic systolic and diastolic hypertension damages the walls of systemic blood vessels and organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys, and retina. Eventually, this organ damage can result in coronary artery disease (CAD), CVA, renal failure, and blindness .

Coronary Artery Disease

Hypertension is the main risk factor for developing CAD from atherosclerosis. With hypertension, atherosclerotic plaque forms in the inner lining of the artery at an accelerated rate. As the artery narrows, more force is needed to pump blood through it, creating an even further elevation in blood pressure.

Cerebrovascular Accident

Hypertension is also a serious risk factor of CVA. In fact, hypertension is a leading cause of transient ischemic attacks and CVAs resulting from cerebral thrombosis, intracerebral hemorrhage, and emboli.

Cerebral arterial hemorrhage can occur when progressive atherosclerotic changes take place and blood pressure increases in the affected vessels. Eventually, smooth blood vessel tissue is replaced with fibrous tissue, causing vessel walls to become thicker and more rigid. But the vessels also weaken because of intense constriction of the cerebral arterioles and arteries, resulting in the development of microaneurysms that tend to rupture easily.

Renal Disease

Hypertension also leads to end-stage renal disease. During the early stage of hypertension, the capillary basement membrane of the glomeruli becomes thickened by atherosclerosis. Hypertension then causes a gradual destruction of the glomeruli, tubules, and nephrons. At first, a patient’s glomerular filtration rate may remain normal, but scarring eventually occurs, causing renal failure. Although most hypertensive patients have some degree of renal dysfunction, African-American hypertensive patients have the greatest risk of developing end-stage renal disease.

Retinopathy

Hypertension can also cause retinopathy. The resulting retinal changes are categorized in four stages of increasingly severe vessel damage.

Usually, the early stages go undetected because the patient has no significant signs or symptoms to report and no apparent reason to seek medical attention. However, if his hypertension is left untreated and his condition progresses into the later stages of retinopathy, he may develop retinal lesions, which can cause blurred vision, or papilledema and retinal hemorrhaging, which can result in blindness.