Hypertension – why is it necessary to measure blood pressure?

Apr 6, 2020

The term "hypertension" describes elevated blood pressure. It can be of various types: arterial, venous, portal, intracranial, etc. However, the term "hypertension" is most often used to refer to arterial hypertension. Arterial hypertension (also known as hypertension or high blood pressure) is a disease in which a long-term increase in arterial blood pressure is detected.

WHO, World Health Organization

Prevalence

According to WHO [1], approximately 1.13 billion people worldwide have high blood pressure, with one in four men and one in five women diagnosed with the condition in 2015. Hypertension leads to the development of various cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death worldwide.

Etiology

According to the etiology (cause), hypertension is divided into primary and secondary. The cause of primary hypertension is unknown, about 90% of people suffer from this type of hypertension [2]. The cause of secondary hypertension is known, most often it is a concomitant disease that provoked this disorder. The factors that most often provoke secondary arterial hypertension include cardiovascular, hormonal, neurological and other disorders, as well as altered kidney, liver and other internal organ functions.

Smoking, woman smoking

Risk factors

As already mentioned, the exact cause of hypertension is unknown in 9 out of 10 cases, so scientists pay most of their attention to the study of risk factors. Patients who already have this disease are interviewed, trying to find out what could have caused hypertension, whether the person had bad habits, worked in a dangerous environment, etc. Many scientific publications have been written on this topic, and in 2003, the highly authoritative scientific journal "The Lancet" published a publication [3] dedicated to primary hypertension, which reviewed many previously published scientific articles. Having summarized the results, scientists indicated the main risk factors that cause high blood pressure:

Overweight (BMI over 30 kg/m2)
Low physical activity
Smoking
Kidney failure, diabetes
Age over 55 years, male gender
Fatty and salty foods
Low potassium intake

Diseases caused by high blood pressure.

Hypertension can cause insomnia, various cardiovascular diseases, stroke, heart attack, heart rhythm disorders, and many other diseases [4]. These diseases are very dangerous and usually incurable, so high blood pressure should be taken very seriously.

Omron M3 comfort, blood pressure monitor, blood pressure monitor

Blood pressure should be monitored continuously

Blood pressure should be regularly measured and monitored, especially if you belong to a risk group (you have one or more of the risk factors listed above). What is normal blood pressure and how to measure it correctly is described in detail in our following articles: https://aceso.lt/blogs/straipsniai-patarimai/kaip-teisingai-matuoti-kraujo-spaudima , https://aceso.lt/blogs/straipsniai-patarimai/kraujo-spaudimo-reiksmes

The device for this procedure - a blood pressure monitor - is indispensable in order to detect hypertension as early as possible, control it with the help of a doctor, and thus avoid serious diseases and extend the duration of a full life. You can choose high-quality blood pressure monitors from reliable manufacturers at the best prices on the website aceso.lt by clicking on this link: https://aceso.lt/collections/spaudimo-matuokliai , and you can find out which blood pressure monitor is right for you by reading this article: https://aceso.lt/blogs/straipsniai-patarimai/kaip-issirinkti-tinkama-kraujo-spaudimo-matuokli

Thus, hypertension is a very dangerous disease. Despite the fact that you may not even notice its symptoms, it can provoke other dangerous conditions or even life-threatening diseases. The only way to detect hypertension at an early stage is to regularly measure your blood pressure and consult a doctor in time to start treatment.

Sources:

[1] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension

[2] https://www.joms.org/article/S0278-2391(05)01533-8/pdf

[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673603133028

[4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673607612999