When the blood is pumped into the blood vessels by the heart, it exerts a pressure on the walls of the vessels. This pressure is referred to as blood pressure. The normal range of blood pressure is 120 over 80 mmHg. According to the WHO, recent decades have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of people with hypertension due to an increase in salt intake, primarily from processed foods. An individual could suffer from hypertension when their blood pressure is more than 130 over 80 mmHg. Chronic hypertension can lead to heart attack, kidney ailments, and stroke. As per an estimate by the CDC, approximately 75 million people in the country (around 1 in every 3 adults) suffer from hypertension.

Types of hypertension
Hypertension can develop due to stress, obesity, poor diet management, and smoking. Hypertension can be categorized into several categories such as the following:

Essential or primary hypertension: An individual is diagnosed with essential hypertension when their blood pressure is found to be above normal for three or more checks and there is no other apparent cause of hypertension found. Some of the causes of essential hypertension include obesity, dietary factors, cigarettes, and genetic factors.

Secondary hypertension:  It develops due to abnormalities in the arteries that deliver blood to the kidneys. However, it can also develop due to thyroid issues, a cancerous growth in the adrenal gland, or hormonal imbalances. Excessive salt and alcohol intake and certain drugs can also trigger secondary hypertension.

Isolated systolic hypertension: In this type of hypertension, only the systolic blood pressure crosses the upper limit and the diastolic pressure remains near normal range (80 mm Hg). It generally develops in the elderly because the arteries lose their elasticity with age. It is important to note that an abnormality in the systolic blood pressure can result in the development of heart disorders.

Malignant hypertension: It is one of the rarest forms of hypertension and affects only 1% of individuals, mostly young people.   In malignant hypertension, blood pressure rises very quickly and this condition requires immediate medical help. Some of the common symptoms are blurred vision, headache, and chest pain.

Resistant hypertension: As the name suggests, resistant hypertension is not manageable by anti-hypertensive drugs. Medically, when an already existing condition of hypertension is not cured by more than three types of anti-hypertensive medications, it is categorized as resistant hypertension. According to one estimate, around 20–30% of individuals with hypertension will eventually develop resistant hypertension. Some of the potential causes of resistant hypertension include being overweight or obese, diabetes, kidney ailments, or certain heredity factors.

Hypertension is a disorder of the modern age. Several lifestyle and dietary factors, such as smoking, maintaining a sedentary lifestyle, and an excessive intake of sodium have been linked with the rising prevalence of hypertension. If it remains untreated, it can cause severe damage to blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, and other bodily organs and may eventually lead to heart failure. However, it can be managed with proper diagnosis and medical intervention.