by Dr Anitha Anchan
April 7 wass World Health Day. And this year, the theme is ‘Control your hypertension’.
In this post, we bring you some myths that surround the disease and are often the cause for many untimely deaths.
Myth 1: High blood pressure is an old age disease.
Hypertension is not just an old age problem anymore. More and more young people are suffering from high blood pressure related ailments. With age blood vessels tend to weaken and hence the chances of getting high blood pressure increase as you grow older. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), high blood pressure affects every third person above the age of 18. The proportion increases with age, from 1 in 10 people in their 20s and 30s to 5 in 10 people in their 50s.
Myth 2: Women are less likely to get hypertension than men.
Both sexes are at risk of developing hypertension affects. In India, 23.10 per cent men and 22.60 per cent women above 25 years suffer from hypertension. However, the condition is more common in men under 45 years old and in women after menopause.
Myth 3: If I had high blood pressure I would get headaches.
Hypertension is a ‘silent killer’ which has no real indicators and can strike at any moment. There are no symptoms most of the time. High blood pressure in most cases is established during a visit to the doctor. Hence, you may develop heart and kidney problems without knowing you have high blood pressure.
Myth 4: A single high blood pressure reading means I have hypertension
Normally, your blood pressure varies throughout the day. It lowers as you sleep and rises when you wake up. Blood pressure also rises when you’re nervous, excited or active. Hence, a single reading of high blood pressure is not the basis for diagnosing hypertension. In order to diagnose you with high blood pressure you should have persistently high readings over time. Likewise, one normal reading doesn’t mean you don’t have high blood pressure.
Myth 5: Hypertension can’t be prevented if I’m in high risk category
Even if hypertension runs in your family you can take certain preventive measures to keep high blood pressure at arm’s length. Make dietary and lifestyle changes – a healthy diet, decreased salt intake, regular exercise, quit smoking, reduce stress, etc. If you are obese or overweight, aim to lose those extra kilos.
Myth 6: It is okay if only one of the blood pressure parameters is high
Our heart can tolerate occasional increases in systolic blood pressure compared to diastolic pressure. Consistently high diastolic pressure can lead to health problems. However, high systolic pressure is of concern in people above the age of 50. Hence it is advisable to take action if either of your blood pressure readings is consistently high.
Myth 7: My salt intake is under control because I don’t use much salt in my cooking.
Controlling salt intake means more than not using salt in your cooking. You have to consider the hidden salt present in pickles and papads, processed foods and bakery eatables too. Processed foods often contain high concentrations of sodium; typical examples are foods whose labels list sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or monosodium glutamate (MSG). Sweet baked foods may not exhibit a salty taste. But they contain baking powder or baking soda which is a salt of sodium.
Myth 8: High blood pressure isn’t a cause for much concern
Since there are no symptoms most of the time, you may not consider high blood pressure to be a big deal. The bad news is that long standing hypertension can cause problems with your vision (hypertensive retinopathy) and decrease blood supply to your legs. Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, bleeding from large blood vessel (aortic aneurysm), chronic kidney disease (hypertensive nephropathy), etc. What more – they can cause erectile dysfunction and affect your sex life.
Myth 9: High blood pressure can be ‘cured’ with medication.
Hypertension can be managed but not cured. It can be a lifelong disease. You will need to make dietary and lifestyle changes, and may need medication every day for the rest of your life.
Myth 10: If my blood pressure readings were fine the last time, I can skip the medication.
You are not equipped or knowledgeable enough to take decisions about your medications for hypertension. It is best that your doctor makes the changes in the dosages, drugs etc.
No comments:
Post a Comment