World Hypertension Day 2023

Beat Hypertension, Embrace A Healthy Life

World Hypertension Day was first introduced in 2005 on May 17th. The world hypertension league first introduced it. This year the world hypertension league has developed the world hypertension theme 2023 is “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer.” World Hypertension Day is a global initiative to raise awareness about hypertension, its prevention, and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. With an increasing prevalence of hypertension worldwide, this day serves as a reminder to prioritize our heart health and take proactive steps toward managing and preventing this silent killer.

Do you know? One out of four Indian adults suffers from hypertension. The incidence of hypertension in India is increasing yearly and is also a causal factor for various heart and kidney diseases.

On account of world hypertension day 2023, please read this article to acquire some insights about hypertension and its risk factors and learn how to manage hypertension by implementing some simple changes.

Hypertension: “The Tension That Pressures Your Heart”

Persistently elevated blood pressure levels characterize hypertension (high blood pressure). Mostly it is asymptomatic and can go unnoticed for years, silently damaging vital organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys.

Hypertension is life-threatening with blood pressure above the normal 120/80 mm Hg level. The upper value refers to systolic pressure, and the lower value denotes diastolic pressure. Systolic blood pressure is the pressure given by the arteries when the heart beats, whereas diastolic pressure is exerted by the arteries when the heart relaxes between the beats. 

Know The Blood Pressure Readings And Find Out The Category You Belong To:

There are four categories of hypertension 

Your blood pressure is considered normal if it is more or less equal to 120/80mmHg.

1. Elevated blood pressure is a category where the systolic pressure measures between 120- 129 mmHg and the diastolic pressure measures less than 80 mmHg.
2. Hypertension stage 1 occurs if your systolic pressure ranges between 130-139 mmHg and your diastolic pressure ranges between 80-89mmHg.
3. Hypertension stage 2 is severe when blood pressure is measured above 140/90 mmHg.
4. Hypertensive crisis is a critical category with remarkably high readings, above 180/120mmHg. This condition requires immediate medical support.
    

Hypertension Is A Threat To Several Diseases: 

Most hypertensive patients in India are unaware of untreated hypertension and its complications.

On this world hypertension day 2023, learn about the long-term effects of hypertension.

• Stroke (heart attack) - A common complication of high BP occurs because of the thickening of the arteries due to cuts off the oxygen supply to the brain.
• Kidney diseases - These occur due to uncontrolled hypertension that causes the narrowing of blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the Kidneys. Thus, the functioning of the Kidney gets retarded slowly as it fails to purify the blood and loses its ability to regulate the fluid balance in the body.
• Retinopathy - It is common in hypertension because high blood pressure can damage blood vessels that supply the eyes and cause visual disturbances or loss of vision.
• Hardening of arteries - It has been linked with hypertension because high blood pressure can cause damage to the blood vessels and tends to weaken them, which can further lead to the build-up of bad cholesterol in the walls of blood vessels.
• Heart failure - It is associated with hypertension because of the increased workload of the heart. It becomes difficult for the heart to pump blood with high blood pressure.

Be Informed About The Risk Factors:

• Chronic alcoholics
• Chain-smoking
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Consuming fat-rich and salty foods
• Family history of Hypertension and heart diseases
• Long-term use of birth control pills
• High Body mass index
• Comorbidities like Diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, and cardiac diseases
• Stress
   

Treatment For Managing Hypertension:

First, you must know your accurate blood pressure reading before starting the treatment. In case when the blood pressure is more than 140/90 mmHg, your physician may prescribe you blood pressure-lowering medications either as a monotherapy or a combination with other hypertensive drugs. 

Commonly prescribed antihypertensive drugs are diuretics, calcium channel blockers, Angiotensin receptor blockers, and enzyme inhibitors. Blood pressure-lowering medications can aid in flushing out excess sodium from the body. Most antihypertensive drugs work by relaxing the blood vessels or preventing them from getting narrower. These medications can work effectively to bring down blood pressure. Yet, the real problem lies with treatment adherence since most patients are noncompliant with the treatment and discontinue once the levels have dropped to normal. 
 

Five Basic Lifestyle Management:

• Indulge in physical activity such as aerobic exercises, yoga, and walking. Give at least 30 minutes of the day to your physical and mental well-being is vital to maintain a normal BMI.
• Follow the DASH diet- a dietary option to stop hypertension to combat hypertension. It is a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Strictly say no to foods that contain excess salt, high fat, meat, and dairy products.
• Keep your stress at bay.
• Monitor your blood pressure regularly and be aware before it damages your major body organs.
• Avoid excess alcohol consumption and quit smoking.

“Regular Blood Pressure Monitoring Is Power”

Keep a blood pressure monitor at home periodically to avoid a hypertensive crisis. Regular BP monitoring can also aid in tracking your heart status. Calibrating the home BP monitor once every six months is vital for accurate readings. Ensure to maintain a logbook of all your BP readings and report it to your physician during every hospital visit. So, on World hypertension day 2023, pledge to monitor your blood pressure regularly and follow a healthy lifestyle to live longer.