This month we are acknowledging World Hypertension Day on the 17th of May.
So what are some of the key facts of Hypertension:
- It is estimated that around 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide suffer from hypertension and that two-thirds of these live in low- and middle-income countries.
- Unfortunately, around 46% of these adults are unaware that they have the condition, with only around 42% of those with hypertension being accurately diagnosed and receiving treatment.
- Hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide.
So what exactly IS hypertension?
The condition is also known as high blood pressure. Essentially it is characterised by the pressure in your blood vessels being too high (140/90 mmHg or higher). If this condition goes untreated, it can lead to serious consequences. It is quite common for people with the condition to not notice their symptoms. Therefore, the only way to know is to get your blood pressure checked regularly.
Symptoms associated with the higher ranges (usually 180/120 & up) include:
- headaches
- chest pain
- dizziness
- difficulty breathing
- nausea & vomiting
- blurred vision or vision changes
- anxiety
- confusion
- buzzing in the ears
- nosebleeds
- abnormal heart rhythm
We say that prevention is better than cure, and although there are medicinal options available, there are some risk factors that you can be aware of:
- older age
- genetics/family history
- being overweight or obese
- not being physically active
- high-salt diet
- drinking too much alcohol & Smoking
Some DO’s & DON’Ts for helping to prevent hypertension:
DOs:
Eat more vegetables and fruits.
Sit less and move more.
Regular exercise
Lose weight (if you’re overweight or obese).
Be sure to get your medical check-ups done and keep up to date with monitoring your blood pressure to catch problems early.
Engage in stress-relieving activities, such as yoga, walks outside, etc.
DON’Ts:
eat too much salt
indulge in foods high in saturated-or trans-fats
smoke / use tobacco products
drink too much alcohol (1 drink daily max for women, 2 for men)
miss medical checkups
let your stress go unchecked
