The silent killer
MOST life-threatening medical conditions come with symptoms that signal a problem in the body. These can come as a pain, a slight change in sensory functions, and physical changes in the person’s body that can also alert him or her and others. But some conditions, even if they are as serious, do not immediately present symptoms that signal danger. It only rears its ugly head after a major complication or an irreversible damage has been done. One such condition is hypertension or more commonly known as high blood pressure.
According to the American Heart Association, a voluntary group committed to fighting heart disease and stroke, it is a common misconception that hypertension present symptoms such as facial flushing, nose bleeds, nervousness and difficulty sleeping. Although these may appear as related conditions, they are not always symptoms associated with hypertension.
The condition has been dubbed the “silent killer” because if undiagnosed, it can lead to heart attack, stroke and other failure of organs in the body. In 2013, the World Health Organization wrote in a Global Brief on Hypertension, Silent Killer Global Public Health Crisis that hypertension accounts for 9.4 million deaths worldwide out of the 17 million deaths a year due to cardiovascular disease.
“Hypertension is responsible for at least 45% deaths due to heart disease and 51% of deaths due to stroke,” it said. In the Philippines, the Department of Health at one point reported that of the 10 million Filipinos suffering from hypertension, half are unaware that they have the condition, putting these people at risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Hypertension occurs when a person’s blood pressure is consistently 140/90 mmHG or higher.
Mayo Clinic, a US based non- profit organization committed to medical re- search and education, defines hypertension or high blood pressure as a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.
People who have high blood pressure experience an abnormal flow of blood through their arteries. WebMD, an online medical resource, explained that the continuos “force” brought about by this heavy surge of blood damages the arterial walls, and makes them rough and less elastic.
“Blood flows to your arteries with too much force even if you can’t feel it. Overtime the pressure damages the walls of your arteries,” WebMD said. As the arterial walls are damaged, fat deposits and calcium build up, narrowing the walls, and making it hard for blood to flow normally through the body.
This is when complications arise. The abnormal flow of blood through the body can deprive a person the right amount of blood to their vital organs, like the heart, the brain and the kidney. The damage happens gradually and is often unnoticed since hypertension, as a condition, does not present symptoms. These complications can develop into full-blown coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and damaged nerves to the eyes that can cause eye damage.
There is no one cause for hypertension but it can be brought upon as a primary condition, where the person has abnormally high flow of blood.
It can also come as a secondary symptom of a pre- existing condition like diabetes, sleep apnea and kidney disease. Certain medication can also temporarily increase blood pressure.
Experts advice that the best way to beat hypertension is to determine whether one falls under its risk factors and seek medical advice to determine whether someone is already hypertensive.
“The good news is that many high- r isk hyper tensive patients can be saved from fatal complications through early detection and adequate control of blood pressure,” said Department of Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral about the importance of making lifestyle changes to prevent hypertension.
According to Mayo Clinic, hypertension risks increase with age. Men about 45 years old and women who are about 65 years old are more likely to develop hypertension. People who have a family history of hypertension are more likely to develop the condition.
It lists how a person’s lifestyle can also contribute to the development of hypertension. People who are overweight are at risk of developing high blood pressure because a bigger body mass requires more blood to flow through the body.
“As the volume of blood circulated through your blood vessels increases, so
does the pressure on your artery walls,” Mayo Clinic said. Being inactive increase a person’s risk of developing high blood pressure because it is said that inactive people have higher heart rates.
This constant need for more blood supply can put so much force on the arteries. People who smoke are more likely to develop hypertension because tobacco contains chemicals that can damage the lining of the artery wall. People who are exposed to second-hand smoke are just as likely to be at risk.
A person’s diet can also put them at risk of developing hypertension. A person who has a high sodium or salt diet is at risk of developing hypertension because a high sodium or salt diet causes the body to retain water, which causes high blood.
Not having enough potassium in one’s diet is also a risk factor because potassium helps balance the sodium in the blood. While there is not much data to support the link of Vitamin D to blood pressure, not enough Vitamin D is said to affect the kidney which in turn can cause blood pressure.
Drinking too much alcohol may also damage the heart which can put a person at risk of hypertension.
Stress can contribute to a temporary increase in blood pressure. Mayo Clinic added that the way a person copes with stress, like stress eating, smoking or drinking are just as worrisome and risky as dealing with stress alone.
Although hypertension often does not have any symptoms, complications brought about by the condition may signal a problem in a person’s body. The American Heart Association suggests seeing a doctor if one feels light headed, headaches and chest pain.
Keeping a record of one’s blood readings may also be useful for the consultation. Blood pressure cannot be treated but it can be managed with medication and a proper diet before it leads to deadly complications. —