Accurate measurement, effective control, health and longevity
- World High Blood Day May 17 -
May 17, 2024 is World Hypertension Day, and the theme of this year's World Hypertension Day is "Accurate Measurement, Effective Control, Healthy and Longevity", which aims to draw people's attention to the prevention and treatment of hypertension. We should stick to measuring our blood pressure regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
High blood pressure, as the name suggests, refers to the high pressure of blood in the blood vessels. Hypertension is characterized by a persistently elevated blood pressure of ≥ systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg. Long-term high blood pressure can lead to many serious diseases such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, etc. Globally, the incidence of hypertension is increasing year by year and has become one of the major diseases affecting people's health. Therefore, early screening and prevention of hypertension are of great significance to maintain our health.
What are the diagnostic criteria for hypertension?
Common signs of high blood pressure include:
Figure: Diagnostic criteria for hypertension in the office for blood pressure
Figure: Diagnostic criteria for hypertension for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
Cardiovascular risk stratification criteria in patients with hypertension
What are the common signs of high blood pressure?
Common signs of high blood pressure include:
- Headache: It may be pain in the back of the head or temple area and may worsen as blood pressure rises.
- Dizziness or vertigo: may be due to an impact on the blood flow to the brain.
- Palpitations or irregular heartbeat: may be due to an increased burden on the heart.
- Blurred vision: May be an eye complication due to high blood pressure.
- Difficulty breathing: Particularly when moving or lying down, high blood pressure can affect heart function.
*If you experience any of these symptoms and have high blood pressure, seek medical attention immediately. But also be aware that most people with high blood pressure don't feel any symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to check your blood pressure regularly as the best way to know if you have high blood pressure.
Who should be concerned about blood pressure?
Everyone should monitor their blood pressure regularly and keep an eye on changes in blood pressure to maintain cardiovascular health. However, the following groups of people are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure and need to be vigilant:
- People with a family history of high blood pressure: High blood pressure is genetically predisposed, and people who have high blood pressure in their family are at higher risk.
- Obese: Obesity is one of the important risk factors for high blood pressure.
- Older adults: The incidence of hypertension increases with age.
- People with unhealthy lifestyles: Bad habits such as a high-salt diet, lack of exercise, staying up late, smoking and drinking alcohol may increase the risk of high blood pressure.
- People with other chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia, are more likely to develop hypertension due to related pathophysiological changes.
Over 130/80mmHg, be actively concerned!
1. In the absence of antihypertensive drugs, blood pressure exceeding 140/90mmHg three times on the same day can be diagnosed as hypertension, and lifestyle intervention and drug treatment can be started.
2. Blood pressure over 130/80mmHg should cause concern, with the increase in blood pressure may bring harm to the heart, brain and kidney and other organs, lifestyle intervention should be started as soon as possible, for patients who have already had target organ damage and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications should start antihypertensive drug treatment as soon as possible.
In addition to genetic factors, many of the occurrence of hypertension is related to bad lifestyle habits and dietary habits
Limit salt, lose weight, and exercise more
Quit smoking, stop drinking, and have a calm mind
01Limit sodium intake
Too much sodium is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, and long-term salt can slow the rate at which blood pressure rises with age. The average salt intake of mainland residents exceeds 9g/day, and the World Health Organization recommends that the salt intake per person should not exceed 5g/day, and it is recommended to replace ordinary salt with low-sodium salt.
02Lose weight
Overweight and obesity can lead to increased blood pressure and an increased risk of hypertension, and abdominal obesity may be more strongly associated with hypertension. It is recommended that overweight and obese people lose weight, and the waist circumference should be controlled at <90cm for men and 80cm < for women.
03Exercise moderately
Exercise reduces sympathetic activity, relieves nervousness, reduces weight, and reduces the risk of hypertension. It is recommended to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling) per week, along with appropriate muscle strength and flexibility exercises, depending on your condition.
04Quit smoking
Smoking can increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and it is recommended to quit smoking (including traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes). 05Quit alcohol
Heavy alcohol consumption raises blood pressure, and not drinking alcohol is the most beneficial for your health. People with high blood pressure are advised not to drink alcohol. Patients with high blood pressure who are currently drinking alcohol are advised to abstain from alcohol.
06Maintain mental balance
Long-term stress, anxiety, or depression can increase the risk of hypertension. Maintain a positive and optimistic attitude and avoid negative emotions. Actively receive psychological intervention when necessary.
What are the common misconceptions about high blood pressure?
01 Myth: If the blood pressure is normal, stop the drug. Please follow the doctor's instructions to gradually reduce the dose for observation, and do not stop the drug by yourself. Normal blood pressure is the result of medication control, not that high blood pressure has been "cured". Blood pressure is important for control, and self-stopping may cause blood pressure to rise again, and most people with high blood pressure need to take the drug for life.
02 Myth: It doesn't matter if the elderly have high blood pressure. It is often thought that high blood pressure is normal in older people. This misconception is particularly prominent in the elderly population, resulting in some patients not receiving correct diagnosis and effective treatment. In fact, there is no age distinction in the diagnostic criteria for hypertension. It is recommended that healthy elderly people aged 65~80 years old should start drug therapy as long as they can tolerate the treatment and have a systolic blood pressure of more than 140 mm Hg. 03 Myth: If it doesn't work, you want to change blood pressure medication. Some patients do not see an effect within a few days after taking the drug, and they will ask the doctor to change the antihypertensive medication, so that the blood pressure cannot be effectively controlled. In fact, most long-acting antihypertensive drugs need to be taken continuously for 2~4 weeks to fully exert the antihypertensive effect and achieve the maximum efficacy. Therefore, it is necessary to follow the doctor's advice and take the medication for a period of time before evaluating the antihypertensive effect. 04 Myth: Health products can treat high blood pressure. Some patients think that Western medicine has great side effects and are unwilling to take it for a long time, and they have heard that some health products can treat high blood pressure, so they blindly rely on health products to lower blood pressure. In fact, many businesses now exaggerate the efficacy of health therapies and health food therapy, saying that they can replace drug treatment, which is wrong.
05 Myth: Lifestyle management can be cured. Lifestyle management of hypertension is important to help prevent or manage hypertension. However, if hypertension persists after 1 month of strict lifestyle management, or if people with intermediate- or high-risk hypertension, antihypertensive drugs should be started immediately. 06 Myth: Young people don't get high blood pressure. High blood pressure can occur at any age. As you age, you have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure. In recent years, more and more young people are suffering from high blood pressure, so young people also need to be screened for high blood pressure. 07 Myth: There is no problem without symptoms. Most people with high blood pressure have a gradual increase in blood pressure, so they don't feel anything, but even if they don't feel it, high blood pressure is still damaging your blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and other organs, which can lead to serious consequences.
08 Myth: Worry about the adverse reactions of drugs. Untreated high blood pressure is more dangerous than the side effects caused by medications! There are many safe and effective medications to control high blood pressure. The side effects of commonly used antihypertensive drugs are mild and reversible. If one medication causes side effects, your doctor can adjust the prescription and switch to another.
Source: Basic Public Health Service Project Announcement
Review: Liu Yu
Editor-in-charge: Guo Qinqin
Editor: Ma Xiaoyan