Hypertension Dubai | 11 December 2021
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure rises and falls throughout the day. When blood pressure stays elevated over time, it’s called high blood pressure.
The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. High blood pressure is danger- out because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). It increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the first- and third-leading causes of death. High blood pressure also can result in other conditions, such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness. Risk factors are conditions or behaviours that increase your chances of developing a disease. When you have more than one risk factor for heart disease, your risk of developing heart disease greatly multiplies. So if you have high blood pressure, you need to take action.
Risk factors you can control:
– High blood pressure
– Abnormal cholesterol
– Tobacco use
– Diabetes
– Overweight
– Physical inactivity
Risk factors beyond your control:
– Age (55 or older for men; 65 or older for women)
– Family history of early heart disease (having a father or
brother diagnosed with heart disease before age 55 or having a mother or sister diagnosed before age 65)
A blood pressure level of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high. About two-thirds of people over age 65 have high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg, then you have prehypertension. This means that you don’t have high blood pressure now but are likely to develop it in the future unless you adopt the healthy lifestyle changes. People who do not have high blood pressure at age 55 face a 90 percent chance of developing it during their lifetimes. So high blood pressure is a condition that most people will have at some point in their lives. Both numbers in a blood pressure test are important, but for people who are age 50 or older, systolic pressure gives the most accurate diagnosis of high blood pressure. Systolic pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading. It is high if it is 140 mmHg or above.
Hypertension can almost always be prevented, so these steps are very important even if you do not have high blood pressure.
– Maintain a healthy weight
– Be physically active
– Follow a healthy eating plan
– Eat foods with less sodium (salt)
– Drink alcohol only in moderation
– Take prescribed drugs as directed
Dr Barbara Karin Vela is an International Member of Royal College Of General Practitioners, UK
Hypertension Dubai | 11 December 2021