High blood pressure ≠ hypertension! Stay away from high blood pressure and do these 6 things

Speaking of high blood pressure

Many people feel that:

“

A: I’m still young, so it’s okay if my blood pressure is a little high.

B: My blood pressure has always been high. I don't mind it.

…

”

In fact, the potential risks of high blood pressure are everywhere!

The "China Cardiovascular Health and Disease Report 2022" shows that there are 245 million patients with hypertension in China, but the treatment control rate is only 16% , and the incidence of hypertension is obviously becoming younger.

Hypertension , also known as arterial hypertension, refers to a clinical syndrome in which the pressure exerted on the blood vessel walls by blood flowing in the blood vessels is continuously higher than normal levels when in a resting state , and may be accompanied by functional or organic damage to organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys.

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Common symptoms of hypertension include headache, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, chest tightness, palpitations , etc.

Most of them have a slow onset and lack special clinical manifestations.

Not really ! First, eliminate factors such as emotions, medications, diet, exercise, and sleep , and then determine the true blood pressure level.

How do you diagnose high blood pressure ?

When blood pressure is measured three times on different days without taking antihypertensive drugs and in a quiet resting state, hypertension can be diagnosed as long as the systolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and/or the diastolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 90 mmHg .

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Generally speaking, blood pressure is divided into the following four levels:

When you have these symptoms, you should pay attention, you may be suffering from secondary hypertension :

● Young hypertensive patients have moderate to severe elevations in blood pressure .

● Elderly patients had previously well-controlled blood pressure, but their blood pressure suddenly rose for unknown reasons .

● For patients who take medication regularly , the effect of combined drug treatment is still not obvious, and the blood pressure fluctuates greatly .

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● Muscle weakness, periodic paralysis of the limbs, paroxysmal hypertension accompanied by headache and palpitations, sleep apnea, heat intolerance, sweating, obvious proteinuria, and adrenal abnormalities may occur during examination.

The main reasons are as follows:

Genetics: Most people with high blood pressure have a family history.

Age: The incidence of hypertension tends to increase with age.

Obesity and overweight: Excessive fat content in the body will increase the burden on internal organs and cause high blood pressure, and the incidence rate is 3-4 times that of normal weight.

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Bad living habits: long-term consumption of high-salt and high-fat foods, smoking, drinking, and irregular work and rest schedules will stimulate blood vessels, causing them to over-contract, slowing blood flow and thus increasing blood pressure.

Mental stress: Negative emotions cause abnormal spasms in blood vessels and induce high blood pressure.

Other factors: Secondary hypertension caused by uncontrolled heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.

High blood pressure can cause these harms to your body:

Cerebrovascular

Long-term high blood pressure may cause blood vessel rupture and lead to cerebral hemorrhage.

heart

The main heart changes are left ventricular hypertrophy and enlargement. Long-term hypertension is often accompanied by coronary atherosclerosis, which increases myocardial oxygen consumption, causing angina pectoris and even sudden death.

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kidney

Long-term hypertension increases the pressure in the glomerular capsule, causes glomerular fibrosis and atrophy, and sclerosis of the glomerular afferent arterioles, renal parenchymal ischemia and a continuous decrease in nephrons, ultimately leading to renal failure.

Retina

Spasms occur in the early stages of hypertension, and a sudden rise in blood pressure can cause retinal exudates and hemorrhages.

In addition to the above complications, hypertension may also cause aortic dissection, hypertensive crisis , etc.

Eat a healthy diet

The diet should be based on the principle of low salt and low fat, with appropriate supplementation of calcium and potassium salts .

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Exercise regularly

Choose appropriate exercise and relaxation methods.

Control your drinking

If you drink an average of >36 grams of alcohol per day, your systolic and diastolic blood pressure will increase by an average of 3.5 mmHg and 2.1 mmHg respectively.

Quitting smoking

Smoking can cause high blood pressure and increase the risk of hypertension, so you should quit smoking as soon as possible.

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Psychological adjustment

Keep a happy mood and avoid overwork and emotional excitement.

Regular medical check-ups

Get your blood pressure checked regularly to detect and address potential health problems.

In conclusion

We should pay attention to the dangers of high blood pressure

Don’t take it lightly

Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Check your blood pressure regularly

Say NO to high blood pressure, the "invisible killer"!

Author

References

[1] Li Luyan. The practical significance of the "Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension in China"[J]. Jiangsu Pharmacy and Clinical Research, 2005, 13(2): 40-42.

[2] Yang Guoyong. What are the special cases for the diagnosis of hypertension?[J]. Health Reading, 2019(32):178.

[3] Wang Yiqing. The hazards of hypertension[J]. Kaijuanyi (Seeking Medical Advice), 2023(7):30.

[4] Su Rila. Treatment and prevention of hypertension[J]. Everyone's Health, 2024, (05): 22

[5] Wang Jianan. What is hypertension?[J]. Healthy Life, 2017(8):10-13.

[6] Ke Yuannan, Liu Ying. Questions and Answers on Hypertension - Prevention[J]. Health Care for the Middle-aged and Elderly, 2014(7):16-17.

[7] Feng Li. The harm of hypertension cannot be ignored[J]. Health Guide, 2023, 29(1): 40-41.

Content Production

Editor: Yang Yali

Map: Eastern Zhou Dynasty