On 17th of May every year World hypertension day is observed. It is an initiative by the world hypertension league (WHL) to spread awareness about this silent killer.Most of us would have heard of the term but many people don’t know the full implications that hypertension could lead up to if left unmanaged.
When the force of the blood against the artery wall becomes too high it is called a state of hypertension. It is mostly defined as blood pressure above 140/90 and is termed severe if the pressure is above 180/120. The normal blood pressure range of an average individual is between 120/80 to 140/90.
High blood pressure usually does not show any immediate symptoms, thus people often have it but due to lack of knowledge and awareness it goes undiagnosed. According to industry estimates in India more than 10 million people suffer from hypertension every year. The age group which are most likely to suffer from hypertension falls between 41-80 years.
If left untreated high blood pressure can become fatal and can eventually lead to heart attack, brain stroke, coronary artery diseases, heart failure, arterial fibrillation, vision loss, peripheral vascular disease, chronic kidney disease and dementia. The good news is that the ill effects of hypertension can be easily controlled through cost effective medication and regular follow-ups. It is not a treatable disease, and a person once detected with hypertension has to take medical all his or her life.
Primary or Secondary.
Hypertension is divided into two categories: primary and secondary. The primary high blood pressure is mainly caused due to unhealthy diet , about 90-95% of people fall into this category due to bad lifestyle and genetic factors. To prevent this form of hypertension one should avoid excess salt in their food, should maintain a healthy body weight, drink less and avoid smoking.
The secondary high blood pressure is more serious and affects the remaining 5-10% of people. It is caused by a specific reason such as chronic kidney disease, endocrine disorder etc.
One lesser known fact about hypertension is that it needs to be monitored regularly and the line of treatment needs to be adjusted according to the prevailing state of the body. Therefore, if you have hypertension then take good care of yourself and make regular visits to your doctor to check on the progression of your disease.
On this Hypertension day let’s be aware about this silent killer and stay healthy.
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