High blood pressure is a silent disease that does not usually present symptoms at the beginning. Therefore, it is important to monitor it and know how to handle it.
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Managing hypertension is very important, especially with increasing age , since it is a silent disease that significantly affects our cardiovascular system.
High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the most prevalent diseases and one of the leading causes of premature death in the world. According to the WHO , it is estimated that ” globally, there are 1.13 billion people with hypertension, and the majority of them (about two thirds) live in low- and middle-income countries.”
In Spain, the [email protected] study carried out in 2016, found that ” 42.6% of the adult Spanish population over 18 years of age is hypertensive”. Therefore, it is considered one of the first causes of visiting the doctor in the field of primary medicine.
With today’s sedentary lifestyle, combined with an unhealthy diet, HT is increasingly being detected at younger ages . In this article we will tell you when and how to manage hypertension.
What is hypertension?
Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of the arteries, which are large vessels through which blood circulates in the body. When it is too high, it is considered hypertension.
The blood pressure is expressed by two figures:
- Systolic tension: represents the pressure exerted by the blood on the vessels when the heart contracts or beats. The normal value is less than 120 mmHg.
- Diastolic tension: represents the pressure exerted on the vessels when the heart relaxes between beats. The normal value is less than 80 mmHg.
To establish the diagnosis of hypertension, we need to take 2 or more measures carried out in 2 or more medical visits. In both readings, the systolic pressure must be greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and the diastolic pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg.
However, it is always more reliable to measure the tension at home by means of 24-hour ambulatory monitoring, in order to avoid the ‘white coat effect’. This is that the environment of the medical consultation or the presence of the doctor can cause some patients to become nervous and get high blood pressure that is not the real one.
In the case of ambulatory measurement , hypertension exists when the values of 135/85 are exceeded . However, it should be noted that ‘normal’ blood pressure varies depending on the age of the patient.
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What does hypertension mean in our health?
High blood pressure can lead to serious heart damage , such as angina, heart attack, heart failure, and an irregular heart rhythm, which can lead to sudden death. This occurs because excess pressure can harden the arteries, thereby reducing the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.
Hypertension can also lead to a blockage or rupture of the arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the brain, leading to a stroke or stroke . Likewise, it can cause kidney damage that would generate kidney failure.
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At what age should hypertension be managed?
High blood pressure can be present in all phases of life. But, as we have said before, and more and more frequently diagnosed s from 40-50 years. However, due to our sedentary lifestyle and our diet, hypertension occurs more and more in younger people.
Difference between sexes
We found a higher percentage of hypertension in men younger than 45 years old than in women. Between 45-65 years, the tensions between men and women are usually similar, but when they are over 65, women with HTN outnumber men with this disease.
This is because women have already gone through menopause , which involves a drastic decrease in female hormones or estrogens. These dilate the arteries, decreasing the tension in them and, therefore, protecting them from HT.
In conclusion, how do you manage hypertension?
Hypertension does not usually give symptoms, it is a ‘silent disease’ and many people do not usually realize that it has it. Therefore, it is necessary to make a regular visit to your GP to do a checkup. As we have said, it can occur at any stage of life.
The best thing is that from a young age we learn healthy life habits in order to prevent it. Controlling your blood pressure is very easy, at any pharmacy or at the medical visits you make. If you detect abnormal values in more than two measurements, see a doctor.
If you have already detected high blood pressure, you have to monitor your blood pressure at home as your doctor tells you. It is important that you take the prescribed medication and lead a healthier lifestyle. Thus, you can enjoy better cardiovascular health.
