DEFINITION: High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the   arteries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and organs of the body.

CAUSES:
Essential hypertension
Has no identifiable cause.There are several factors that have been highly associated with the condition. These include:

• Smoking
• Obesity or being overweight
• Diabetes
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Lack of physical activity
• High levels of salt intake (sodium sensitivity)
• Insufficient calcium, potassium, and magnesium consumption
• Vitamin D deficiency
• High levels of alcohol consumption
• Stress
• Aging
• Medicines such as birth control pills
• Genetics and a family history of hypertension

Essential hypertension comprises over 95% of all high blood pressure.

Secondary hypertension:

• Renal
• Endocrinal
• Cardio-vascular
•  Cerebral
•  Toxic
• Polycythemia vera

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

• Tiredness
• Confusion
• Vision changes
• Angina-like chest pain (crushing chest pain)
• Heart failure
• Blood in urine
• Nosebleed
• Irregular heartbeat
• Ear noise or buzzing

INVESTIGATION:

Blood Pressure level of Diastolic Pressure is important and according to its level the patients are grouped into
* Mild-Diastolic Pressure less than 100
* Moderate-Diastolic Pressure less than 100-120
* Severe-Diastolic Pressure more than 140
* Gross-Diastolic Pressure more than 140.
Pulse-Radial pulse bounding and hard.
CVS-Heaving cardiac impulse.
Optic fundi exam-arteriolar narrowing, compression, haemorrhage or oedema of disc may be seen.
ECG-Left ventricular enlargement with or without T inversion in Lead I, AVL, V5 and V6.
X ray chest-Left ventricle is dense, its left border is rounded.

MANAGEMENT:

• Medical observation.
• Avoid mental and physical strain.
• Overeating.
• Smoking.
• Weight reduction in obese patients.
• Salt restriction.

What to include in the diet?

1. One should include good amount of fresh fruits and vegetables in diet to reduce fat intake.

2. Take low fat milk and milk products.

3. Include wholegrain products in diet.

4. Fish and poultry can be included.

5. Include fiber in diet, up to 30 mg of fiber should be included each day in diet. One can get fibers from whole wheat, cereals, oatmeal, popcorn etc.

6. Broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, potatoes, peas and beans can be included in the diet as it contains good amount of magnesium and potassium.

7. Apples, mangoes, apricots, bananas and grapefruits are also high in potassium and magnesium.

Suggestion about homoeopathic treatment:

Homoeopathic management plays an important role in the case of hypertension.The treatment is based upon the cause and the totality of the case. Many homeopathic remedies are successfully used to control hypertension.Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc.Constitutional treatment is the best way of treating the hypertensive patient in cases of essential hypertension along with the general management given above.