Symptoms of Renovascular Hypertension & Tachycardia

Renalvascular Hypertension is a type of high blood pressure. Since the occurrence is due to a condition in the body, it is considered secondary hypertension. The hardening or narrowing of the renal artery causes this type of high blood pressure. There are many symptoms and each is consistent with elevated blood pressure.

Occurance

• Both men and women are equally at risk, but its occurs more often in Caucasians and African Americans than other races. The age in which the renovascular hypertension onsets is dependent on the reasons that there is damage to the kidney's blood vessels. Generally, it is most common in men over 45 who suffer from atherosclerosis, and women under 45 who suffer from fibromuscular dysplasia. Factors that can lead to renalvascular hypertension are smoking, high-sodium diet, obesity, stress, heavy metal exposure and genetics.

Causes

• There are several conditions that cause the renal artery blockage, that leads to renalvascular hypertension. Atherosclerosis causes plaque deposits to accumulate and fibermuscular dyplasia leads to cell overgrowth. Both limit the blood flow. Other causes of narrowing is compression due to injury, tumors, and clots. The lack of blood flow causes the kidneys to produce a protein that is turned into an enzyme which in turn leads to sodium retention and constriction of the arterioles. This is an attempt to increase blood flow through the kidneys, but leads to the symptoms of renalvascular hypertension.

Blood Pressure

• High blood pressure is the main symptom of renalvascular hypertension. The value is recorded with two numbers; systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number). The systolic value is recorded when the heart contracts and the the diastolic value is recorded when the heart is at rest. The diastolic value should be under 80, but with patients who suffer from renalvascular hypertension, the value is usually over 104.

Symptoms

• The symptoms can range from minor to severe depending on the value of the blood pressure which is the main the symptom. In many cases, individuals may not suffer any symptoms at all. However, common symptoms are headache, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, chest pain, vision problems, confusion, anxiety, excessive perspiration, and pale or reddened skin. If the renalvascular hypertension is caused by a clot, the patient may have pain in the side or urine in the blood. Serious complications can be hypertensive heart disease, stroke, blindness, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, blood vessel damage, kidney damage and kidney failure.

Tachycardia

• At rest, the heart generally beats between 60 to 100 beats per minute. Tachycardia is when the heart beats over 100 beats per minute. This is only considered abnormal when the person is at rest. Normal instances of elevated heart rate are during or after exercise or in response to excitement, anxiety or stress. Renalvascular hypertension may cause tachycardia. The symptoms of tachycardia are shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, chest pain and severe anxiety.