High blood pressure is global health problem. In the western world, including our country, a quarter of the adult population is affected.
Calling hypertensive disorder “the silent killer” wasn’t by accident. It occurs without any symptoms, it is typically detected by some kind of a routine or aptitude examination. For the very same reason, patients already diagnosed with high blood pressure often discontinue their medication administration, claiming that they don’t feel sick after discontinuation. This however, is a serious mistake. The persistently high blood pressure damages the wall of blood vessels without causing pain or sickness, thus only a sudden – even life threatening – incident manifestation will draw attention to the severity of the situation - unfortunately much too late.
What is defined as high blood pressure?
If pressure above the value of 140/90 mmHg is measured on several separate occasions, on both upper arms, in a sitting position
What causes vulnerability to high blood pressure?
What complications may be associated with high blood pressure?
As a result of elevated pressure in blood vessels, as well as other consequences of the lifestyle factors listed above (for example high cholesterol levels, etc.) elasticity of blood vessels will be impaired, small “heaps” form on their walls, which become solid, calcified over time (plaque).
This leads to the formation of two risk factors:
An infarct not only occurs in the heart with this mechanism, but also in the kidneys, in the brain and in the eye.
Consequences of a cardiac infarct may be:
An infarct in the brain results on any of the following based on the area affected:
High blood pressure therapy
It needs to be noted, that treatment of high blood pressure isn’t primarily pharmaceutical, but requires radical lifestyle changes.
TIPP: use the stairs instead of the elevator, or get off the bus one stop earlier
Mediterranean diet
Research shows, that the diet typical for Mediterranean countries has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. What are the characteristics of this diet?
Pharmaceutical treatment
Establishment of a pharmaceutical treatment is always a doctor’s assignment, since it depends on other co-morbidities of the patient.
Antihypertensive medications belong to several groups, depending on where their chemical effect is exerted. It is not rare, but even common, that the agents with different mechanisms of action have to be administered in combination in order to reach the opted blood pressure decrease (aimed value).
What can you do to support pharmaceutical treatment:
The risk of organ impairment may be decreased by an adequate pharmaceutical therapy, thus getting the chance, though under the condition of a disciplined medication intake, to live a qualitative and long life.