High blood pressure is the disease known as “silent death” because today there are millions of people who suffer from this disease and do not know it. According to data from The Texas Heart Institute, nearly 80 million Americans have it, and 16 million don’t know it.
Blood pressure has a daily pattern in people. It usually begins to increase a few hours before waking up and increases, reaching its maximum peak at noon.
It usually goes down at the end of the followingnoon and at night. Blood pressure is usually lower while people sleep. According to the Institute Mayo Clinicthere is abnormality in blood pressure when it rises during the night, is high early in the morning, or drops at night is very low.
An abnormal pattern of tension, according to specialists, might indicate that the person has poorly controlled high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, or a nervous system disorder.
The name “silent death” is precisely because it has no symptoms, however, according to The Texas Heart Institute, in some cases the person may feel palpitations in the head or chest, dizziness, shortness of breath or nosebleeds. When there is no alert, the disease can go unnoticed for many years.
Experts point out the importance of having regular medical check-ups to be aware of blood pressure.
Prevention and treatment
If you have already been diagnosed with hypertension, the next step is to talk to your doctor regarding what Changes in lifestyle should be adopted, likewise, determine if it is necessary to consume any medication.
The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that reducing hypertension prevents heart attacks, strokes and kidney damage, in addition to other health problems.
In this sense, it details the following recommendations to prevent eventual blood pressure problems:
- Reduce salt intake (to less than 5 g daily).
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Get regular physical activity.
- Do not consume tobacco.
- Reduce alcohol consumption.
- Limit your intake of foods high in saturated fat.
- Eliminate/reduce trans fats from the diet.
Regarding what habits to acquire to control hypertension and avoid health complicationsthe WHO suggests reducing and managing stress, periodically measuring blood pressure and treating other disorders that the patient may present.
Causes of high blood pressure:
Regarding the causes of hypertension, there are several factors that can affect blood pressure. For example:
- The amount of water and salt present in the body.
- The state of the kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels.
- Hormone levels.
MedlinePlus also collects that people are more likely to develop pressure problems as they age. This happens because blood vessels become stiffer with age.
High blood pressure also increases the chance of having a stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease, or early death.
The following population groups are more likely to develop hypertension:
- Obese people.
- People who frequently feel stressed or anxious.
- Those who drink too much alcohol (more than one drink a day for women and more than two a day for men).
- Those who include too much salt in their diet.
- They have a family history of high blood pressure.
- They suffer from diabetes.
- Smokers.
