Hypertension, known as silent killer, affects more than 1 billion people worldwide, and this figure is growing steadily. Numerous disorders are associated with hypertension, which is a significant public health issue. Untreated or uncontrolled hypertension is the single biggest contributor to cardiovascular disease, causing stroke, heart failure, and coronary artery disease, and is also major contributor to kidney disease.
What is Hypertension?
Known as High Blood Pressure (HBP), hypertension (HTN or HT), or arterial hypertension is associated with cardiovascular disease. Hypertension, one of the most insidious diseases, causes many diseases and also disrupts the function of many organs. For this reason, the treatment process is usually lifelong. Lifestyle changes such as regular and healthy eating, doing sports, keeping body weight at a certain level and quitting harmful habits (such as smoking, alcohol, drugs) have positive effects on hypertension. Hypertension, which is a major public health problem that puts many people in the world at risk, requires not only lifestyle but also drug treatment for hypertensive patients. It should be followed regularly throughout life and biochemical parameters should be monitored.
Hypertension is the name given to a common medical condition in which the force exerted by blood carried from the heart to the body is high enough to cause it to exert on artery walls. It brings with it many health problems, mostly heart diseases. This insidious disease can occur for many reasons. It is usually seen in adults and the elderly. Although hypertension is the most common chronic disease, it is noticed late by people. When it is noticed, it usually occurs in other diseases. However, silent killer hypertension, which lurks for years without showing any symptomps, is a preventable and treatable disease with regular treatment and a healthy lifestyle.
Prevalence of Hypertension in the World
According to recent researches, an estimated 26% of the world’s population (927 million people) has hypertension, and the prevalence is expected to rise to 29% by 2025, largely due to increases in economically developing countries.
Normal Blood Pressure
Regardless of age, blood pressure is considered to be normal under a systolic value of 140 mmHg and under a diastolic value of 90 mmHg. The blood pressure value measured while the heart beats is called systolic (132 mmHg), and the blood pressure value measured when the heart softens is called diastolic (88 mmHg).
How to Measure Blood Pressure?
Blood Pressure devices are used for blood pressure measurement, today there are air, mercury and electronik devices. Electronic devices are preferred for home use. Blood pressure should be measured while resting for at least 2-3 minutes, ideally in a calm and quiet enviroment. Anything that could affect blood pressure, such as smoking, drugs, tea and exercise, should be avoided in the last 15 minutes. The arm should be bare and there should be no items such as tight clothing or accessories. The arm should be at heart level, if necessary, should be supported by an object such as a pillow from below.
Types of Hypertension
There are two types of Hypertension.
Primary Hypertension (Stage 1)
This type of high blood pressure develops gradually over the years. For adults, this type has no identifiable reason.
Secondary Hypertension (Stage 2)
The secondary type of hypertension tends to come on suddenly and causes higher blood pressure than Primary Hypertension.
Common Factors That Can Lead to Hypertension
- Age: Blood pressure tends to rise with age.
- Race/Ethnicity: High blood pressure is more common in African American adults.
- Weight: People who are overweight or have obesity are more likely to develop high blood pressure.
- Sex: Before age 55, men are more likely to develop high blood pressure compared to women. After age 55, women are more likely than men to develop it.
- Lifestyle: Certain lifestyle habits can raise your risk for high blood pressure, such as eating too much sodium (salt) or not enough potassium, lack of exercise, drinking too much alcohol, smoking and taking drugs.
- Family History: A family history of high blood pressure raises the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Symptoms
- Frequent urination
- Blurred or double vision
- Swelling in the legs
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness, fatigue, restlessness
- Nosebleeds
- Irregular heartbeat and heart pain
- Dizziness and headache
- Blood in the urine
- Blood spots in eyes
- Sweating
- Facial flushing
Diagnosis
Hypertension can not be diagnosed with a single measurement. Blood pressure measurements to be made multiple times and over a long period of time are necessary to confirm diagnosis. At the same time, the person must also experience certain symptoms. Also, if the person has consistenly high blood pressure, the doctor consults will ask for the full history and perform a physical examination. Then, the situation is monitored and the person is diagnosed with appropriate tests.
Damage Caused by Hypertension
The organs effected by high blood pressure are; heart, brain, kidneys, great arteries, and eyes.
- Heart failure
- Heart enlargement
- Narrowing of the vessels feeding the heart (Coronary Artery Stenosis)
- Blockage in the blood vessels that feed the heart (Heart Attack)
- Celebral hemorrhage
- Paralysis and stroke
- Narrowing and clogging of brain vessels
- Kidney failure
- Impaired kidney function
- Decreased vision and blindness
- Enlargement of large arteries and rupture, and blockage of these enlargements
- Gangrene
- Death from sudden bleeding
- Blockage in neck and leg veins
How to Prevent?
- Healthy diet
- Correct body weight
- Being physically active
- No smoking, alcohol and drugs
- Correct sleep patterns
- Managing stress well
The Relationship Between Hyptertension and Healthy Eating Behavior
The food we consume can increase or decrease our blood pressure. We can keep our blood pressure at the right level with healthy eating behaviors. Many diets can be applied. Healthy eating behaviors prevent not only hypertension but many diseases, diabetes (link) for example.
Healthy Eating Behaviors to Prevent Hypertension
Reducing the consumption of:
- Salty foods (rolls and bread, pizza, sandwiches, canned soup, tacos and burritos…)
- Condiments (ketchup, chilli sauce, soy sauce, salad dressings…)
- Sugary foods (processed desserts, prepackaged meals, crackers, granola bars and other nutrition bars, sugary drinks…)
- Caffeine
- Red meat (beef, lamb, pork, veal, goat…)
- Alcohol
- Saturated fats
- Processed and prepackaged foods
Increasing the consumption of:
- Lean meats (grilled chicken, turkey, fish…)
- Fruits and vegetables (leafy greens, avocados, berries, broccoli…)
- Grains (bulgur, quinoa, brown rice…)
Suggestions for Individuals with Hypertension
Smoked or cooked meats and such foods given above should be avoided. While consumption of meat and meat products has a positive relationship with increased diastolic blood pressure, consumption of seafood and fish decreases diastolic blood pressure. Less red meat, more fish, seafood and olive oil consumption is suggested. The mediterranean diet can be one of the best options for people with hypertension. Vegetable dishes cooked with olive oil, and fruit predominantly diet will have positive effects on blood pressure. However, processed grains, processed meat and meat products, and alcohol intake will have negative effects. Fibre rich foods regulate blood pressure. This is why the DASH diet (link) is currently recommended.
Stroke and coronary disease when people with hypertension receive regular medication arterical diasease risks are respectively decreasing about 20 to 40%. Therefore, in addition to nutrition, medication treatment is also absolutely necessary.
Conclusion
Hypertension is a disease that destroys many organs and systems, especially cardiovascular system. Insidiously progressing hypertension can only be controlled for a lifetime with medications, healthy eating behaviors and a healthy regular lifestyles. Many details such as avoiding stress, applying diets to maintain body weight, increasing the consumption of vegetables and fruits and reducing the consumption of alcoholic beverages have a great role in hypertension. When such lifestyle changes, regular monitoring of biochemical parameters and drug therapy are applied together, protection against accompanying diseases and effective treatment of hypertension are achieved.