Do you know how many individuals live with hypertension or high blood pressure? Over 220 million Indians and 1.28 billion adults globally! Nearly 46% of people worldwide do not know they have hypertension.
Understanding hypertension:
Blood pressure (BP) is the force exerted by blood on the walls of the arteries.
BP - Systolic/ Diastolic reading in mm Hg.
• Systolic BP: Measure of arterial pressure when the heart beats.
• Diastolic BP: The pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes.
An individual is diagnosed with hypertension when blood pressure exceeds 140/ 90 mm Hg consistently.
As per the American Heart Association, blood pressure is classified as:
CATEGORY – BP | SYSTOLIC (mm Hg) | and/or | DIASTOLIC (mm Hg) |
Normal | Less than 120 | and | Less than 80 |
Elevated | 120-129 | and | Less than 80 |
Hypertension – Stage I | 130-139 | or | 80-89
|
Hypertension – Stage II | 140 or higher | or
| 90 or higher |
Hypertensive crisis | Higher than 180 | and/ or | Higher than 120
|
Hypertension is termed as the ‘silent disease’, as it often manifests with no visible signs or symptoms.
People with extremely high blood pressure (≥180/ 120 mm Hg) may experience headaches, blurred vision, chest pain, breathing difficulty or dizziness.
Risk factors
1.Genetic history:
A familial history predisposes the individual to a greater risk of hypertension.
2.Age:
≥ 40 years
3.Obesity
4.Sedentary lifestyle:
Reduced physical activity may lead to high blood pressure.
5.Stress:
Chronic stress can cause hypertension.
6.Diet:
Excessive salt consumption, above WHO’s daily recommended limit of 5g5, and saturated fats are common risk factors.
7.Smoking and excess alcohol consumption
Complications of hypertension
1. Increased risk of cardiac conditions, like heart attack, heart failure, etc.
2. Atherosclerosis: Narrowing of arteries due to plaque buildup in the arterial walls
3. Kidney damage
4. Eye damage leading to blindness
5. Stroke
6. Dementia or cognitive impairment
Management
Early detection is the key!
1. Lifestyle modifications
a) Healthy diet:
DASH (Dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diet: Consuming fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean protein sources.
A low sodium diet, i.e. <2000 mg/ day, is recommended for adults.
Canned and junk foods need to be avoided.
Potassium-rich foods like bananas, spinach, etc., help to lower blood pressure.
b) Exercises and Physical activity:
Aerobic exercise: At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercises per week, like walking, cycling, or swimming.
Strengthening exercises: Moderate to high-intensity muscle strengthening exercises, using resistance bands, dumbbells, weight cuffs or body-weight exercises. Flexibility: Mobility exercises, Yoga and stretching.
c) Weight management
Maintain a healthy weight with a nutrient-rich diet and fitness routine
d) Stress management:
-Breathing exercises, relaxation exercises, meditation techniques and Yoga.
e) Good sleep schedule
-At least 7-8 hours of daily sleep for better cardiac health.
f) Smoking cessation and reduced alcohol intake
2.Pharmacotherapy
Diuretics
ACE inhibitors
Beta-blockers
Alpha-blockers
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Vasodilators
3.Regular follow-ups and routine check-ups
To track the progress and modify the treatment plan, if necessary.
Prevention:
Good diet
Exercise regime
Stress management
Monitoring the blood pressure levels regularly
Hypertension leads to increased incidence of stroke deaths and coronary artery deaths in India, but managing this ‘silent’ disease is possible with lifestyle modifications, physical activity, pharmacotherapy and routine follow-ups.
Hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is a medical condition characterized by consistently elevated blood pressure readings, specifically when the systolic pressure exceeds 140 mm Hg and/or the diastolic pressure exceeds 90 mm Hg. This condition is often asymptomatic, meaning that individuals may not experience noticeable symptoms even as their blood pressure rises to dangerous levels. Over time, untreated hypertension can lead to severe health complications.
REFERENCES
3.Desai AN. High Blood Pressure. JAMA. 2020;324(12):1254–1255. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.11289
6.Belanger MJ, Kovell LC, Turkson‐Ocran RA, Mukamal KJ, Liu X, Appel LJ, Miller III ER, Sacks FM, Christenson RH, Rebuck H, Chang AR. Effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet on Change in Cardiac Biomarkers Over Time: Results From the DASH‐Sodium Trial. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2023 Jan 17;12(2):e026684.
https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.122.026684
Comments