Hypertension is a leading cause of premature death worldwide. It is estimated that it was responsible for about 10 million deaths worldwide.in 2019. However, about 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware that they have it, and only 1 in 5 adults with hypertension have it under control.
What is hypertension?
Hypertension is a condition in which blood pressure, the force exerted by blood on the vessels through which it flows, is constantly elevated. The pressure is expressed as two numbers. The first represents the systolic pressure, the pressure exerted when the heart “beats”, while the second represents the diastolic pressure, the pressure exerted when the heart “relaxes” between beats. Hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg.
Categories and causes of hypertension
Hypertension can be categorized as primary or secondary, depending on the cause that is responsible for it. Primary hypertension is responsible for over 90% of hypertension cases and can be caused by various factors, such as age, increased body weight, lack of physical activity and dietary habits, such as a high-salt diet and excessive alcohol consumption. Secondary hypertension is caused by a pre-existing condition, such as kidney dysfunction and endocrine disorders.
Symptoms and complications of hypertension
Hypertension is called the “silent killer” because it usually doesn’t give any warning signs or symptoms. You can have high blood pressure but feel perfectly fine! So it’s important to have your blood pressure checked regularly, ideally by a healthcare professional, to ensure it’s being measured correctly.
Long-term, untreated hypertension is a significant risk factor for:
• Cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack, cardiac arrest, heart failure.
• Organ dysfunction, such as kidney and eye damage, leading to kidney failure and vision loss, respectively.
Prevention and treatment of hypertension
Both for the prevention and treatment of hypertension, adopting a healthy and balanced lifestyle plays an important role. More specifically:
• Increased consumption of vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts and healthy oils such as olive oil.
• Reduced consumption of red meat and consumption of low-fat dairy products.
• Limit salt consumption to less than 5 grams/day, which corresponds to 1 teaspoon.
• Increase potassium intake. Foods rich in potassium are bananas, oranges and potatoes.
• Limit alcohol consumption to:
– less than or equal to 2 drinks/day for men.
– less than or equal to 1 drink/day for women.
• Control body weight to avoid obesity and achieve a healthy body weight.
• Regular aerobic exercise.
• Quit smoking.
• In the case of hypertension, appropriate medication may be required.
Summary – Conclusion
Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) is the cause of various health complications such as cardiovascular disease and organ dysfunction, making it the leading cause of premature death worldwide. Usually its existence does not lead to the appearance of any symptoms, so regular blood pressure measurement is necessary, ideally by a health professional. Both for prevention and treatment, it is recommended to adopt a healthy lifestyle, while in the case of already established hypertension, medication is taken, if suggested necessary.