Hypertension: A Useful Guide

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects nearly a billion people worldwide, with a significant proportion of adults affected by hypertension treatment in Dubai as well. Understanding high blood pressure and your health starts with knowing that the only reliable way to determine whether you have high blood pressure is to have it measured by a nurse or doctor. This article examines hypertension, including its causes, symptoms, and common treatments.

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension is a chronic health condition in which the pressure in your blood vessels is consistently too high. The pressure of the blood inside your body varies as your heart beats. It is highest when your heart contracts and lowest when it relaxes and fills with blood.

Blood pressure is measured using two numbers. The highest number represents your systolic blood pressure. This represents the force with which your heart pumps blood throughout your body. The lowest number is your diastolic number, which represents the resistance to blood flow in the blood vessels. General clinical guidelines state that:

  • High blood pressure is defined as 140/90 mmHg or higher.
  • The ideal blood pressure is between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg.
  • Low blood pressure is defined as 90/60 mmHg or lower.

These are just general guidelines. Older people have higher blood pressure in general, so their ‘normal’ blood pressure varies. If you are concerned about your blood pressure or that of someone you know, see a doctor.

What Are the Signs of Hypertension?

Unfortunately, noticeable symptoms of high blood pressure are uncommon. Most people only notice hypertension symptoms when their blood pressure is dangerously high. This is referred to as a hypertensive crisis. Symptoms of a hypertensive crisis include severe headaches, anxiety, chest pain, nosebleeds, and an irregular heartbeat. These symptoms necessitate emergency care from a high BP doctor in Dubai.

Causes of Hypertension

The exact causes of hypertension remain unknown. However, we do know that hypertension is more common in the elderly than in the younger population. Genetics and family history can also influence outcomes. Overall, several factors contribute to high blood pressure. The following behaviors play a significant role in the development of hypertension:

  • Smoking
  • Being overweight
  • A lack of exercise
  • Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol
  • Consuming too much salt
  • Not eating enough vegetables and fruits
  • A lack of sleep

Stress, as well as conditions such as kidney disease and thyroid disorders, increase the risk of having high blood pressure.

Treatment for Hypertension

Higher blood pressure causes your heart to work harder. This strain can cause damage to your arteries, blood vessels, and heart, resulting in reduced blood flow throughout your body. This raises your risk of heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, and other serious medical problems. However, there are numerous ways to pursue high blood pressure treatment in Dubai. Making simple changes to your lifestyle can have a significant impact.

Consider your diet

Salt is one of the leading causes of high blood pressure, so avoid adding extra salt to your food. You should also inspect food packaging for hidden salt content, which accounts for approximately 75% of the salt we eat. Other suggestions for avoiding high levels of sodium include:

  • Flavoring your food with additional ingredients such as pepper, garlic, herbs, spices, or lemon juice.
  • Avoid saltier foods, such as bacon, or choose low-salt alternatives whenever possible.
  • Always taste your food before salting it. Most likely, it will taste fine without!

Also, try to avoid foods high in saturated fat and sugar. Instead, replace them with more nutritious fruits, vegetables, and whole foods. To replace processed foods, include more complex carbohydrates (brown rice, whole wheat bread and pasta), lean meats, and legumes in your meals.

Become a more active person

Sedentary lifestyles are also bad for blood pressure. To combat this, gradually increase your physical activity throughout the day. Begin with a 15-minute walk, gradually increasing the duration. You could eventually walk for an hour per day, followed by a jog if possible. However, if you have previously been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you should consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise regimen.

Cut out cigarettes

We all know that smoking is extremely harmful to our health. Cigarette smoke contains nicotine, which increases your blood pressure and heart rate, narrows and hardens your arteries, and makes you more susceptible to blood clots. If you smoke, there has never been a better time to quit.

Medication

Aside from lifestyle changes, your doctor may prescribe medications to help manage your blood pressure. Most people will require a combination of medications, which vary depending on individual health factors such as age and any existing medical conditions. Common options include ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-2 receptor blockers, and calcium channel blockers, with your doctor determining the most suitable choice for your specific circumstances. Consulting one of the best doctors for high blood pressure in Dubai ensures your medication plan is properly tailored to you. When combined with the appropriate lifestyle changes, these medications can be extremely effective in lowering high blood pressure.

Checking Your Blood Pressure

To determine whether you have hypertension, you will need to undergo a blood pressure test. It is generally recommended that all adults over the age of 40 have their blood pressure checked at least once every five years. This is quick, simple, and potentially life-saving. You can have yours checked at a local hypertension clinic in Dubai. Some pharmacies and workplaces also provide these tests. If you discover that you have pre-hypertension or high blood pressure, you may need to check it more frequently. You can do this at home with either a manual or automatic blood pressure machine. Your doctor will be able to recommend the best device for you.

Stay Safe at Home

Dr. Barbara Karin’s clinic supports patients managing hypertension and related health conditions with attentive, ongoing care. If you have concerns about your blood pressure or need urgent medical assistance, simply contact the clinic directly, and our team will assess your situation and arrange appropriate care promptly. If you’d like to take the next step, book a hypertension consultation in Dubai with our team, or fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible for trusted hypertension treatment in Dubai.

FAQs

Blood pressure is measured using two numbers: systolic (pressure during heartbeats) and diastolic (pressure between beats). Generally, 90/60 to 120/80 mmHg is considered an ideal range, 140/90 mmHg or higher is classified as high blood pressure, and readings below 90/60 mmHg are considered low. These are general benchmarks, though normal ranges can shift somewhat with age, so it's worth discussing your specific numbers with your doctor.
Hypertension is often called a "silent" condition because it typically doesn't cause noticeable symptoms until blood pressure becomes dangerously elevated. Most people only experience symptoms — such as severe headaches, chest pain, or an irregular heartbeat — during a hypertensive crisis, which requires emergency care. This is exactly why routine checks matter, even if you feel completely fine.
Reducing salt intake is one of the most impactful changes, since a large portion of dietary salt comes from hidden sources in packaged food rather than the salt shaker. Beyond diet, gradually increasing physical activity, cutting out smoking, and moderating alcohol intake all contribute meaningfully to better blood pressure control over time, often working alongside any prescribed medication.
Doctors typically consider factors like your age, overall health, and any existing medical conditions when selecting the right medication or combination of medications. Common options include ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-2 receptor blockers, and calcium channel blockers. Since individual circumstances vary considerably, it's important to have this decision made collaboratively with your doctor rather than self-selecting a treatment.
Adults over 40 are generally advised to have their blood pressure checked at least once every five years as a baseline precaution. If you've been identified as having pre-hypertension or high blood pressure, more frequent monitoring is usually recommended, which can often be done conveniently at home using a validated blood pressure machine, in addition to regular clinic visits.