High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Only diabetes causes more kidney failure than high blood pressure.
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of the blood against the arteries as it flows through the body. Your blood pressure changes during the day. Exercise, stress and other factors can change your blood pressure. A less than 120/80 is considered as a normal blood pressure.

What is high blood pressure?
If your arteries become too narrow, your heart begins to pump harder to move the blood through the narrow arteries; it makes your blood pressure higher.

Higher blood pressure does not mean that a person is tense. A very relaxed person can have high blood pressure. Blood pressure that stays above 140/90 is categorized as high blood pressure.

Multiple readings at different time slots must be taken to confirm if you have high blood pressure.

What are the symptoms?
As indicated earlier, a very relaxed person may have high blood pressure. That is why high blood pressure is often called a “silent killer”. There may be no symptoms to identify high blood pressure. Only a regular test can identify this condition.

High blood pressure and kidneys:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the permanent loss of some kidney function. It can be caused by many different diseases and can lead to kidney failure.

• High blood pressure is the second leading cause of CKD (remember diabetes is the first). Hypertension causes more than 1 out of 4 cases of kidney failure
• High blood pressure can hurt blood vessels in kidneys; damage to these vessels makes kidneys not to remove the waste and extra fluid from the body.
• People with diabetes and high blood pressure are even more at risk for CKD.

Healthy kidneys also control blood pressure. When the kidneys are damaged; blood pressure rises and this may cause more damage to the kidneys.

High blood pressure not only affects the kidneys but other organs too. Heart will have to pump harder and may grow large in size. The risks may be stroke, eyes, and brain problems.
People who are at risk of having high blood pressure may include:

• People over the age of 55
• Family members with high blood pressure
• Smokers
• Obese people

What can I do to curb this disease?

• Reduce salt in food
• Avoid fast food
• Reduce saturated fat
• Eat fruits, vegetables, grains and low fat dairy products
• Exercise regularly
• Watch your weight
• If you smoke – QUIT
• Keep alcohol consumption to moderate

Tests for high blood pressure:
Now we all know that high blood pressure may not have any symptoms. Have your blood pressure checked regularly by a professional health care provider. It takes only few minutes to get your blood pressure checked and it is painless. Again, the test must be conducted few different times to confirm if you have high blood pressure.

There are machines available now that can be used to measure your own blood pressure. Speak with your health professional for recommendation and they may be able to teach you how to use the device.

Treating high blood pressure:
Once you realize that you have high blood pressure, you can manage this condition with diet and medicines. Speak with your doctor as soon as possible.

Blood pressure can be controlled by changing your eating habits and life style. Include the following in your diet and lifestyle:

• Whole grain foods, fish, poultry and nuts
• Reduce sweets and sugar drinks
• Reduce salt, saturated fat, cholesterol and total fat
• Lot of fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy products
• Watch your weight
• Exercise
• Limit your caffeine
• Reduce stress
• Stop smoking

Medicine for blood pressure:
Medicine can be used to manage blood pressure. Only take prescribed medicine to address blood pressure condition. Speak with your doctor before making any change or stop your medicine.

ACE Inhibitors and ARBs:
Two groups of medicines called ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) lower blood pressure. These may also protect the kidneys of people with diabetes.

Diuretics:
Your doctor may also prescribe a diuretic in addition to your other medicines. Diuretics are also called “water pills”. They help you urinate and get rid of extra fluid in your body.

Other medicines:
There are many other kinds of medicines that can help your high blood pressure. Your doctor may prescribe more than one kind to control your disease.

Exceptions:
If you are suffering from CKD and are on dialysis – your healthy blood pressure may be higher than normal. Fluid can build up between your dialysis sessions to cause swelling and weight gain. The extra fluid raises the blood pressure and can make the heart work harder.