Intermittent High Blood Pressure

Overview

High blood pressure (HBP)  is also called hypertension. Hypertension is a life-threatening condition that affects organs like the heart, brain, kidney, and eyes. HBP occurs when the force at which your heart beats against its arteries becomes high.

Hypertension (HTN) can be classified into 4 stages based on your diastolic and systolic readings. 

Systolic pressure is the pressure your blood exerts against the walls of your arteries while your heart beats. Diastolic pressure, on the other hand, is the pressure your blood exerts against the walls of your arteries while your heart is at rest.

Systolic and diastolic readings are often measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

Below is a blood pressure chart showing the classification of HTN based on your systolic and diastolic readings.

Understanding high blood pressure

Causes

Several reasons could cause elevated high pressure  includes;

• Stress: According to the British heart foundation stress itself won't increase your blood pressure. However, not properly managing stress can lead to unhealthy habits that put you at  risk of developing HTN. One such habit is binge eating. Binge eating is often accompanied by weight gain which is a risk factor for developing high blood pressure
• Obesity: Obesity has been identified as a major risk for HTN. Being obese can also worsen symptoms of HTN in patients whose blood pressure are already high. Obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) equal or above 30. Your BMI is a measure of your body fat deposits against your height
• Having elevated blood sugar levels: A study showed that being diabetic doubles an individual's risk of developing high blood pressure when compared to a normotensive person¹
• Genetics: It is said that shared factors like genes, environment, diet and habit can increase the risk of  HTN  in being run in families²
• Excessive intake of salt: Studies reveal that increased salt intake is associated with elevated blood pressure.³ The world health organisation (WHO) recommends a salt intake of less than 5 grams a day for adults to prevent the risk of elevated blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and coronary attack
• Smoking: Most smoking devices and cigarettes contain nicotine. This stimulant has a negative effect on your heart rate which can potentially increase your blood pressure
• Lack of excersie: Living a sedentary lifestyle makes you gain weight while an active lifestyle improves your insulin sensitivity and elevates your mood thus reducing your risk of developing high blood pressure
• Consuming a diet high in fat and cholesterol

Symptoms

Common symptoms of Hypertension include:

• Headache
• Heart palpitations
• Insomnia
• Nosebleed
• Flushing

Intermittent high blood pressure

Intermittent High Blood pressure is also known as labile HTN. 

Intermittent High Blood occurs when you get involved in a series of activities that can increase your blood pressure. 

The rise in blood pressure is a compensatory mechanism to support the activity you are engaged in. 

Intermittent blood pressure becomes an issue when your blood pressure rises above normal and dramatically varies in the high ranges.

Common causes

Events like being physically active, coitus, facing a difficult situation in life etc..can increase your blood pressure intermittently. 

Some medications for the treatment of common cold and allergies also have the ability to increase your blood pressure. 

Individuals who suffer from kidney disease and kidney malfunction are also prone to developing renal HTN which can also cause a spike in blood pressure readings. 

This is because a malfunctioning kidney releases a hormone that causes the body to retain more salt and water than is necessary. 

Thus, this leads to a blood volume overload and an increase in the  blood pressure of such an individual. 

Though predictable, intermittent blood pressure becomes an issue when it is recurrent. 

Research showed that individuals with recurrent Labile HTN are likely to have a stroke.

Some individuals with intermittent high blood pressure rarely and sometimes have no symptoms which could be a dangerous thing. 

Treatment and preventions

Medications

There are currently no drug regimens for patients with intermittent high blood pressure.

This is because patients with intermittent high blood pressure often experience a fluctuation in their blood pressure readings. Hence, giving them medications that lower blood pressure might have a deleterious effect on their general health as they stand the risk of hypotension which can cause fainting and dizziness.

However, anti-stress medications are often administered to individuals who experience 

intermittent high blood pressure. 

In addition to anti-stress medications, most patients with intermittent high blood pressure benefit from lifestyle modifications.

Home remedies

Several home remedies have proven useful in reducing blood pressure generally. These remedies include;

• Eat potassium-rich food: Potassium balances out the effect of excessive salt consumption.Hence, patients with an elevated blood pressure will benefit from consuming foods rich in potassium. These include; beans, nuts, bananas, avocados, lentils, green leafy vegetables like broccoli,cantaloupe, and some dried fruits like apricots
• Include flaxseed in your diet: A study carried out in 2014 shows that Flaxseed contains a chemical that helps lower blood pressure⁴
• Reduce salt consumption: Salt causes your body to retain water. When your body retains water, your blood volume increases whichincreases the pumping work your heart has to do while raising the pressure of your blood against your heart vessels
• Limit caffeine intake: Caffeine is known to reduce the diameter of blood vessels, a process called vasoconstriction. This makes it difficult for blood to flow freely through your blood vessels hence increasing your blood pressure
• Reduce consumption of processed food: Most processed food contains bad fat called Low density lipoprotein(LDL). It is also important to note that most processed food contains high amounts of salt
• Incorporate garlic in your meals: Garlic is rich in a chemical known as antioxidant which are agents that help mop up free radicals (substances that wreak havoc on your body)
• Drink hibiscus flower juice: Hibiscus flower has been shown to reduce blood pressure in patients with stage 1 hypertension⁵
• Consume meals rich in magnesium: Researchers have found that magnesium consumption can help keep your blood pressure in the normal range. Hence, consumption of food rich in magnesium is potentially beneficial if you have elevated blood pressure. Such foods include avocados, bananas, pumpkin seeds, cashew nuts, soya beans,and peanuts

Lifestyle changes

• Identify triggers that elevate your blood pressure and avoid them
• Quit smoking
• Loss weight
• Manage stress adequately 
• Exercise regularly
• Practice meditation 

Complications

Several complications can arise when your blood pressure rises intermittently. These complications include;

• Increased risk of developing cardiac arrest
• Stroke
• Kidney damage and disease
• Eye damage
• Mental derangement like dementia
• Sexual dysfunction 

When to seek medical attention

It's best to seek medical attention when you notice symptoms that make you feel generally unwell. If you notice any of the following symptoms do not hesitate to reach out to your doctor

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizzy and faint spells

Summary

A person is said to have HTN when his blood pressure is above 120mmHg for systolic and 80mmHg diastolic readings respectively. 

Although several factors contribute to hypertension, some are within your control and others out of your control. It is important to identify factors within your control while making deliberate steps to reduce your blood pressure.

It is often best to check your blood pressure regularly and visit your doctor as soon as you notice symptoms that are out of place.