Analysis methods and applications

Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure, which refers to an elevated pressure of the blood in the arteries. There are two major factors that cause hypertension and they can be present independently or together. These factors are the heart pumps blood with excessive force or the body's smaller blood vessels narrow, forcing the flow of blood to cause more pressure against the vessels' walls. The body is able to tolerate increased blood pressure for years, but eventually, the heart might enlarge and this might result in heart failure. The high blood pressure might also injure the blood vessels in the kidneys, heart, the eyes, and the brain (van der Giet & Tölle, 2015). Systolic and diastolic pressure are the numbers used to describe blood pressure. Systolic pressure is the first and higher number and indicates the force that blood exerts on the artery walls when the heart contracts to pump out blood. It has been established that a high systolic pressure is a great risk factor than diastolic pressure for kidney, brain, heart, and circulatory complications. It can also result in death especially for middle-aged and elderly adults. A wider spread between the systolic and diastolic pressure measurements, the greater the risk.
Current Data and Statistics Related to Hypertension
It is estimated that about 75 million American adults accounting for 32 percent of the population have high blood pressure, which equates to 1 in every 3 adults. The prehypertension stage is the stage where an individual has higher than normal blood pressure, but they are not yet in the high blood pressure range. Research shows that about 54 percent of people who have high blood pressure have their condition under control. High blood pressure was the primary cause or contributing cause of death for more than 410,000 American in 2016. That is more than 1,100 deaths a day. The costs associated with treatment of high blood pressure, health care services, and missed days of work to the nation is $48.6 billion each year. It is estimated that the number of adults who have high blood pressure could be higher considering that most people remain undiagnosed. However, a majority of these cases could be treated with low-cost medications and this would reduce their risk of death significantly.
Health Disparities Related to Hypertension
Several studies have shown that African American adults are more likely to suffer from hypertension than White and Mexican American adults. The studies have also indicated the African Americans are more likely to be aware of their hypertension status, more likely to be undergoing treatment, but they are less likely to have the condition under control as compared to whites (Campbell & Niebylski, 2014). However, the reasons for these findings are unclear. It is assumed that genetics plays a key role in the development of hypertension especially in African Americans. This could explain the high number of adults who have the condition or are at risk of developing the condition. Amongst the Hispanic American adults, hypertension risks vary by group. Puerto Rican American adults have higher rates of hypertension than other Hispanic groups and Caucasians. Cuban American adults have been found to have lower rates of hypertension than Caucasians.
Prevention Strategies Including Complementary and Alternative Health Therapies
Exercise and having a healthy diet are the main strategies an individual can use to prevent and lower their blood pressure. There are other complementary and alternative medicine that one can use like managing stress, slow breathing, meditation, yoga, hypnosis, and acupuncture. Stress results in the heart beating faster and this raises the blood pressure, therefore managing stress will greatly reduce the blood pressure. Slow breathing sends calming signals to the nervous system and this can greatly help with high blood pressure. Meditation, yoga, and hypnosis help in calming the body and this results in the heart beat decreasing, which could be beneficial for a person with hypertension. Acupuncture has mixed results, but some studies indicate that it does help with high blood pressure.
Contemporary Research and Clinical Studies Related to Hypertension
High blood pressure has been extensively studied and there are numerous studies that cover this condition. Many of the studies have identified the groups that are more likely to suffer from the condition. The extent and prevalence of hypertension have also been covered. The one thing that is similar in all the studies is that hypertension is a condition that can be easily managed by low-cost medication and other alternative medicines (Petriz & Franco, 2014). Evidence has been presented to support these claims. One study attempted to identify the particular gene that causes African American adults to be at higher risks of suffering from the condition. The level of education has also been identified and shown to be a contributor.
An Analysis of The Pathophysiologic Effects of Stress Related to Hypertension
There is no evidence linking stress to high blood pressure, however, stressful situations do cause an individual's blood pressure to spike temporarily. When a person is in a stressful situation, their body will produce a surge of hormones. These hormones do temporarily increase the blood pressure of the individual. The behaviors linked to stress like drinking alcohol, overeating, and poor sleeping habits could be the contributors to hypertension. It should be noted that short-term stress related spikes in blood pressure could result in the individual being at risk of high blood pressure. Therefore, it is clear that stress does not directly result in hypertension.
Evidence-Based Stress Management Interventions That Might Help with Prevention or Cure
Therapies like relaxation, meditation, and biofeedback have the potential to reduce the effects of stress on individuals by reducing physiologic arousal and restoring autonomic balance, which would, in turn, reduce blood pressure. Relaxation therapies are aimed at enabling the patient to achieve physical and mental relaxation. Meditation practices are aimed at cultivating a state of inner awareness and calmness. The most researched form of motivation is Transcendental Meditation technique. Biofeedback involves the use of electronic devices to monitor information on physiologic indicators of relaxation states like skin temperature, muscle tension, blood pressure, or skin conductance levels.


References
Campbell, N. R., & Niebylski, M. L. (2014). Prevention and control of hypertension: developing a global agenda. Current opinion in cardiology, 29(4), 324-330.
Petriz, B. A., & Franco, O. L. (2014). Effects of hypertension and exercise on cardiac proteome remodelling. BioMed Research International, 2014.
van der Giet, M., & Tölle, M. (2015). New Hypertension Guidelines: Progression or a Step Backwards in Hypertension? Current hypertension reports, 17(7), 1-7.