Hypertensive people should not ignore the escalation of their
blood pressure every now and then as they are courting big trouble.
“Hypertension, per se, does not kill. But the complications are the
ones that disable and kill a hypertensive,” says Dr. Rafael Castillo, a
cardiologist at the Manila Doctors’ Hospital.
To
address the problem of high blood pressure, the World Hypertension
League initiated a global awareness campaign on hypertension in 2005 and
dedicated May 17 of each year as World Hypertension Day. So today is a
perfect time to drum up awareness and alertness for the affliction.
The
World Hypertension League initiated a global awareness campaign on
hypertension in 2005 and has dedicated May 17 of each year as World
Hypertension Day.
In the Philippines,
high blood pressure is an extremely common condition. It affects one of
every four Filipinos, according to the Food and Nutrition Research
Institute. As lives become more sedentary and stressful, and diets
loaded with saturated fats become the norm, high blood pressure is
becoming a serious problem.
A lifestyle illness
Recent studies indicate that there are about 12.6 million Filipinos
with hypertension, and half of them are not aware of their condition
until they begin to suffer symptoms or complications associated with it.
Blood pressure (BP) is written as systolic pressure/diastolic pressure –
for example, 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). This reading is
referred to as “120 over 80.” The higher value reflects the highest
pressure in the arteries, which is reached when the heart contracts. The
lower value reflects the lowest pressure in the arteries, which is
reached just before the heart begins to contract again.
Dr. Willie T. Ong, an internist-cardiologist, defines high blood
pressure as systolic pressure at rest that averages 140 mm Hg or more, a
diastolic pressure at rest that averages 90 mm Hg or more, or both.
Many things can cause blood pressure to rise. When we are asleep, our
blood pressure is low because our body needs less oxygen-rich blood when
it is at rest. On the other hand, when we are exercising, our body's
demands are greater, and so our blood pressure increases.
“It is perfectly normal for your blood pressure to rise and fall in
response to your body’s needs throughout the day,” says Dr. Ong, chair
of the Department of Medicine at Our Lady of Peace Hospital.
But when your blood pressure goes up and stays up, there’s cause for
concern. “Although many people imagine high blood pressure to be a mild
condition, left untreated it can lead to a number of serious medical
problems,” warns Dr. Robert Buckman, author of “What You Really Need to
Know About High Blood Pressure.”
“Hypertension
is the leading risk factor for heart attack, or myocardial infarction,”
wrote Dr. Julian Whitaker, author of “Reversing Hypertension: A Vital
New Program to Prevent, Treat, and Reduce High Blood Pressure.”
The ever present danger
One of the most common and life-threatening complications of high blood
pressure is the damage caused to the brain. High blood pressure can
affect the normal flow of blood to the brain, which in turn can lead to
various complications. This includes transient ischemic attack (TIA) or
mini-stroke, which can be an indicator of a more severe stroke in the
future.
Other problems are strokes, dementia and cognitive impairment.
BP rises fairly steadily between the ages of 20 and 40. After this, it
tends to increase more rapidly. This is particularly among those with
one or both parents who had high blood pressure.
People who are eating a diet high in salt and fat and low in calcium,
magnesium and phosphorus are most likely to have elevated BP, Dr. Ong
says. Being overweight also places strain on the heart; that’s why
obesity is a significant risk factor for hypertension.
The role played by stress in the development of hypertension is still
uncertain. But people whose BP soars during stressful situations (like
meeting deadlines, late for appointments, etc.) are more likely to go on
to develop high blood pressure.
“For many
people with hypertension, simple lifestyle changes might be enough to
lower high blood pressure,” says Dr. Castillo. “But for others,
medication must be prescribed to keep the condition in check.”
As Dr. Ramon Abarquez Jr., founding president of Philippine Society of
Hypertension, puts it: “Once established, hypertension is for life.
Compliance to prescribed medication and clinic follow-ups are mandatory
to prevent target organ damage.” – KDM, GMA News
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