Malignant hypertension is unusually high blood pressure that comes on seemingly out of the blue. The lower blood pressure reading that is normally less than 80 mmHg, can rise above 130 mmHg in cases of malignant hypertension. Other names for this disorder include accelerated hypertension and arteriolar nephrosclerosis.
Considered a medical emergency, malignant hypertension generally presents with:
Other symptoms include:
Who is at risk?
The disorder affects about 1 percent of the people who suffer from high blood pressure, including children and adults. It also occurs in people with collagen vascular disorders, kidney disease, spinal cord injuries, tumor of the adrenal gland and toxemia during pregnancy.
Those who have had kidney failure are at high risk for malignant hypertension. High blood pressure generally makes it difficult for the kidneys to filter wastes and toxins from the blood and may cause the kidneys to suddenly stop working properly.
The goal of treatment, often in the intensive care unit of a hospital, is to lower the blood pressure as quickly as possible. Treatment depends on the specific set of symptoms but there is generally blood pressure medication given through an IV.
Take precautions
Malignant hypertension is rare; however, those who suffer from high blood pressure should take precautions. Exercise is one of the keys to lowering blood pressure and also boosts the effectiveness of blood pressure medications. Since exercise helps in weight maintenance and weight loss, it is especially beneficial for overweight sufferers of high blood pressure. It is believed that losing 10 pounds can lower or help prevent high blood pressure.
Another preventative measure is to eat according to the DASH diet. (DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.) Based on 2,000 calories a day, the DASH diet is rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. It is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and total fat. Studies have shown that the DASH diet can reduce systolic blood pressure (top number) by eight to 14 points. Devised to address high blood pressure, the DASH diet has the added benefit of being a healthy way to lose weight.
National guidelines recommend not getting more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day. This is the equivalent of about a single teaspoon of table salt. By staying on a sodium-restricted diet, the systolic blood pressure by two to eight points. Eating less salt also enhances the effects of most blood pressure medications.
It’s malignant hypertension awareness month, so whether you suffer from high blood pressure or not, why not commit to a healthier way to eat and exercise? Remember to always be consistent with sharing the LPGN powerhouses with everyone you care about—you never know who might need the assistance of Laminine, Laminine OMEGA+++, DIGESTIVE+++ and IMMUNE+++ in their daily lives right now!