WHAT IS HYPERTENSION?

Hypertension (also called high blood pressure) is a medical condition in which the force of blood pushing
against the walls of the arteries is consistently too high.

Blood pressure is measured with two numbers:

• Systolic pressure (the top number): the pressure when the heart pumps blood.
• Diastolic pressure (the bottom number): the pressure when the heart rests between beats.

Normal blood pressure is usually around 120/80 mmHg.
Hypertension is generally diagnosed when:

• ≥ 140/90 mmHg (consistently, in a clinic setting)
• Or ≥ 130/80 mmHg if using home/ambulatory monitoring, especially in people with other risk factors.

Why it matters?

• If left untreated, hypertension can strain the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other organs, leading toserious complications such as:
• Heart disease and heart failure
• Stroke
• Kidney damage
• Vision problems

Risk factors:

• Genetics / family history
• Age
• Being overweight or obese
• High salt intake
• Smoking, alcohol, or lack of exercise
• Stress
• Chronic conditions (like diabetes or kidney disease)

Management:

• Lifestyle changes: healthy diet (low salt, more fruits/vegetables), regular exercise, maintaining healthy
weight, limiting alcohol, quitting smoking, stress management.

Medications:

• may be prescribed if lifestyle changes aren’t enough or if blood pressure is very high.

Apa itu Hipertensi atau Penyakit Tekanan Darah Tinggi?

Hipertensi (atau tekanan darah tinggi) ialah keadaan di mana tekanan darah terhadap dinding saluran
darah (arteri) sentiasa lebih tinggi daripada normal.

Tekanan darah diukur dengan dua nombor:

• Tekanan sistolik (nombor atas): tekanan semasa jantung mengepam darah.
• Tekanan diastolik (nombor bawah): tekanan semasa jantung berehat di antara degupan.

Bacaan normal biasanya sekitar 120/80 mmHg.
Hipertensi biasanya didiagnosis jika:

• ≥ 140/90 mmHg secara konsisten (di klinik), atau
• ≥ 130/80 mmHg jika pemantauan di rumah / 24 jam.

Kenapa Hipertensi Bahaya?

• Jika tidak dirawat, ia boleh menyebabkan:
• Penyakit jantung dan kegagalan jantung
• Strok (angin ahmar)
• Kerosakan buah pinggang
• Masalah penglihatan

Faktor Risiko

• Keturunan / sejarah keluarga
• Umur meningkat
• Berat badan berlebihan atau obesiti
• Pengambilan garam berlebihan
• Merokok, pengambilan alkohol, kurang bersenam
• Tekanan (stress)
• Penyakit kronik seperti diabetes atau penyakit buah pinggang

Cara Kawalan

• Ubah gaya hidup: kurangkan garam, makan lebih buah & sayur, senaman berkala, kawal berat badan,
hentikan merokok, kurangkan alkohol & stres.

Ubat-ubatan:

• diberi doktor jika perubahan gaya hidup sahaja tidak mencukupi atau tekanan darah terlalutinggi.