Stage 2 Hypertension Overview

Including stage 2 hypertension definition, symptoms, treatment, diet and dangers

Hypertension Stage 2 Definition

State 2 hypertension represents a classification of hypertension development that comes after the advancement of stage 1 hypertension. By definition blood pressure refers to the force exerted on vessel walls when blood is flowing in the arteries. According to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7), hypertension stage 2 is defined as high blood pressure with a systolic reading of greater or equal to 160mmHg. A patient with stage 2 high blood pressure will also have a diastolic blood pressure reading of greater or equal to 100mmHg.

In order to arrive at a stage 2 hypertension diagnosis doctors need at least two or more correctly measured readings after the initial single blood pressure measurement. How to take blood pressure is an important skill to have for accurate blood pressure numbers. It is possible for systolic and diastolic readings to fall in different categories or classifications. The higher stage should be used to classify blood pressure status in such a case.

Apart from blood pressure monitor readings, doctors also check or specify the presence or absence of target organ disease and cardiovascular risk factors. These factors are extremely important for the classification of hypertension and its treatment.

Stage 2 Hypertension Symptoms and Dangers

Symptoms of hypertension are not always apparent. In fact in most of the cases, primary hypertension presents absolutely no symptoms. As a result many people are caught by surprise and only getting to know of their condition when it has reached an advanced stage. The dangers of high blood pressure including hypertension stage 2 may include damage to organs such as liver, kidneys, heart and even blindness if no treatment is administered.

When kidneys are damaged this may further lead to the development of renovascular hypertension. Damage to the liver may lead to the development of portal hypertension. Both these conditions are serious and will require sophisticated and costly treatment for high blood pressure. Most symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and blurred vision often associated with hypertension are not clear cut high blood pressure symptoms.

They are also often a result of other medical problems not at all associated with hypertension. The solution therefore is for individuals and households to invest in home blood pressure equipment such as the Lumiscope blood pressure monitor or Omron blood pressure monitor. Home blood pressure monitoring will take care of the recommended one or twice per year blood pressure checks for normotensive people and more frequently for hypertensive individuals. Stage 2 hypertension dangers are real and will include heart failure, heart attack and stroke apart from what has been mentioned above.

Stage 2 Hypertension Treatment and Diet

At 160/100mmHg blood pressure is extremely elevated and dangerous to avoid using high blood pressure meds. In the case of patients with hypertension stage 2 the initial goal is to as quickly as possible reduce blood pressure to 140/90mmHg and to 130/80mmHg or less for patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Blood pressure treatment of hypertension stage 2 normally involves a two-drug combination for most patients. This usually involves thiazide hypertension medications as well as diuretics .

If other medical conditions or what are known medically as compelling indicators exist other specific drugs will be required that do not make these conditions any worse. Typical compelling indicators associated with hypertension stage 2 include heart disease, diabetes, recurrent stroke and post myocardial infarction. Blood pressure pharmacological medications have side effects which doctors will need to keep a close watch.

One approach in common in hypertension treatment irregardless of the stage of hypertension is the need to implement lifestyle modifications. This is an important part of the algorithm for treatment of hypertension. Diet changes are an important part of treatment. Stage 2 hypertension diet will be similar to any other diet for hypertension and eating plan which is rich in foods with less cholesterol, saturated fact and sodium. Patients will be required to eat abundant fruits and veggies and foods that lower blood pressure in general.

The JNC7 notes that lifestyle modifications that leads to weight reduction will on average reduce systolic blood pressure by 5 to 20mmHg. A hypertension stage 2 diet such as the DASH eating plan will reduce systolic blood pressure by some 8 to 14mmHg. Sodium reduction is proven to reduce blood pressure by 2 to 5 points.

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