High Blood Pressure: A Complete Guide To Caring For You

Most people have heard of hypertension (or high blood pressure), but few really know what the disease represents and what risks it poses.

High blood pressure or hypertension is a chronic disease that has no cure, although it can be perfectly controlled, especially when diagnosed early, according to Roberto Franco, president of the Brazilian Society of Hypertension. "In addition, it is considered an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney failure," he says.

Normally, blood pumped through the heart to irrigate organs or to move exerts a force against the wall of the arterial and arterioles.

"When the force that this blood needs to do is increased, that is, the wall of these vessels offers resistance to the passage of blood, we say there is hypertension or, popularly, high blood pressure," explains doctor Franco.

The disease can be of two types, as the doctor points out:

Primary or essential hypertension: which usually has no definite cause, but a multiplicity of acting factors, one of them being the genetic component.

Secondary hypertension: when it is due to a known cause such as kidney disease, adrenal tumor, etc.

? Both forms of the disease can affect the elderly, adults, young people and children ?, highlights Franco.

Brief overview of the population with high blood pressure

According to estimates by the Brazilian Society of Hypertension, hypertension affects about 30% of the Brazilian population, reaching more than 50% in old age.

"In addition, the disease is responsible for 40% of heart attacks, 80% of strokes and 25% of cases of terminal renal failure." serious consequences of high blood pressure that can be prevented, as long as hypertensive people know their condition and stay under treatment ?, highlights Roberto Franco.

Is this one of the major problems of hypertension: Because it is an asymptomatic disease, less than 20% of hypertensive Brazilians, for different reasons, tend to abandon treatment? Both the modification of life habits, as the taking of the medication itself?, emphasizes the doctor.

Hypertension in men vs. hypertension in women

Roberto Franco explains that the risk of men is higher because hypertension appears earlier, while in women the onset is later after the climacteric (the phase in which the transition from the reproductive or fertile to the reproductive period occurs, due to the decrease sex hormones produced by the ovaries). "A woman's hormonal system protects her more," says the doctor.

Main causes of high blood pressure

Most of the time it is not possible to know precisely the cause of hypertension. "But we know that many factors can be responsible," says Franco.

Below, the doctor cites these factors related to high blood pressure:

External factors

• Heredity: The person receives the pre-disposition, which can be presented in several family members.
• Age: Aging increases the risk in both sexes.
• Breed: Black people are more prone to high blood pressure.
• Weight: Obesity is a risk factor.

Internal Factors

• Lack of exercise: Sedentary living contributes to being overweight.
• Bad eating habits: low consumption of fruits and vegetables and increased consumption of fast food.
• Excess Salt: can ease and aggravate high blood pressure.
• Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption compromises blood pressure.
• Smoking: It is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
• Stress: Overwork, anguish, worries, and anxiety can all be responsible for raising the pressure.

Hypertension Symptoms

Roberto Franco explains that hypertension is an asymptomatic disease, ie, has no symptoms. However, when individuals have a more severe acute illness, such as hypertensive urgency and emergency, they may experience headaches, vomiting, dyspnea or shortness of breath, agitation and blurred vision, as a result of lesions affecting the patient. brain, eyes, heart and kidneys?

If left untreated, the doctor points out, can hypertension cause cardiovascular complications such as stroke or stroke, heart attack, heart failure (enlargement of the heart) and angina (chest pain), kidney failure or kidney failure and vision changes? that can lead to blindness.

How to treat high blood pressure?

Roberto Franco explains that, unless there is a clear need for immediate medication use, as in the case of patients with blood pressure levels above 180/110 mmHg, especially in urgent and hypertensive emergencies, most patients should have the opportunity to lower your blood pressure through non-pharmacological treatment. "That is, through general measures of reeducation, also known as lifestyle changes that include physical exercise, balanced diet, reduced sodium consumption and regular measurement of blood pressure," he says.

"As for drug treatment, its goal is to reduce peripheral vascular resistance, promoting vasodilation," adds physician Franco.

How to measure blood pressure correctly?

On the website of the Brazilian Association of Hypertension is a complete guide on how to measure blood pressure correctly at home. Visit the link and follow the instructions carefully!

How to prevent high blood pressure

Below, Roberto Franco, president of the Brazilian Society of Hypertension, highlights measures that can be taken to prevent hypertension (high blood pressure):

1. Measure your blood pressure regularly.
2. Have a healthy diet.
3. Practice physical activity at least 5 days a week. Go hiking, climbing stairs instead of using the elevator, cycling, swimming, dancing, etc.
4. Maintain a healthy weight. It is also important to evaluate the waist circumference (waist) measurement, which in men should not exceed 102 cm and in women 88 cm.
5. Decrease the amount of salt in the food. Use a maximum of 1 tsp for all daily food. Do not use salt shakers at the table and do not add salt to the food when ready.
6. Reduce alcohol consumption.
7. Do not smoke! After hypertension, smoking is the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
8. Control stress (nervousness). Try to manage your problems more smoothly. The? Art of living well? It is facing the problems of everyday life with wisdom and tranquility.
9. Follow your doctor's directions. They will help control blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
10. If using medications, take medications as directed by your doctor. If you have any questions about the medicine, talk to your doctor, attend appointments regularly and do not abandon treatment.

The Importance of Diet to Combat High Blood Pressure

Poor diet is one of the factors related to hypertension. This is precisely why the need to follow a healthy diet is reinforced. For this, the doctor Franco gives basic orientations:

What to avoid: sugars and sweets, fruits, dairy products in full form, with fats, red meat with apparent fat and offal, ready seasonings, processed foods that come in cans or glass, processed and processed foods such as sausages, preserves, canned, smoked, jerky .

To prefer: cooked, baked, grilled or sauteed foods, natural spices such as lemon, herbs, garlic, onions, parsley and chives, fruits, vegetables, skim milk products.

You now have all the information you need about hypertension and you already know the risks that hypertension offers. Therefore, it is essential to avoid it by trying as hard as possible to follow all the preventive measures mentioned above.

Matters of the Heart: High Blood Pressure (March 2024)