Experts Offer Ways to Deal With High Blood Pressure

Experts offer ways to deal with high blood pressure and here is how. First let’s have a look on high blood pressure risks.

High Blood Pressure Risks

High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of premature death in the world. Globally, an estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30 to 79 years have hypertension, more than any other risk factor, according to the World Health Organization, with 7.6 million deaths worldwide every year (13, 5% of the total). About 54% of strokes and 47% of coronary heart disease are associated with high blood pressure.

These views were expressed by Prof. Faisal Ahmed, Cardiologist and Dean of the Department of Cardiology, at a public awareness workshop held last week at the Neurospinal Cancer Institute in Karachi on the occasion of World Hypertension Day 2022. That’s exactly what I did.

High blood pressure without initial symptoms can cause abnormal heart rhythms, but some patients also suffer from nosebleeds. In other cases, fatigue and confusion may be due to pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary arterial hypertension causes excessive pressure on the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs, causing fatigue. These conditions also cause shortness of breath, chest pain, and dizziness.

Headaches of all kinds are often the only symptom of high blood pressure in most patients and often go unnoticed. Visual impairment is another sign of high blood pressure and is caused by damage to the blood vessels. Pressure on the optic nerve limits retinal function and causes vision problems. This will cause blood to enter the urine, which is characteristic of high blood pressure.

Who is on Risk

Professor Faisal Ahmed advised people in their 30s and 40s to have their blood pressure checked at least once a year and for those over 40 every 6 months. He added that for those diagnosed with hypertension, regular monitoring is key to cure high blood pressure at home.

“33% of the adult population of country suffers from high blood pressure that is often touted as a silent killer. Their high mortality makes all these people vulnerable to coronavirus (Covid). -19 is now spreading again to different parts of Pakistan), which could have serious consequences for them, resulting in higher mortality than people without hypertension,” said guest speaker Dr. Namra Saiflahan, chief medical officer of the National Bank of Pakistan.

The data show hypertension between the ages of 17 and 49. their health, but only 10% of people in Pakistan control high blood pressure. Therefore, awareness of healthy lifestyle changes is needed. The risk of high blood pressure with treatment also greatly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness,” says Dr. Namura.

Relation Between Summer Heat and High Blood Pressure

“The heat of summer is also at its peak this year. It was 49 degrees Celsius in many parts of Pakistan and high heat warnings were issued. People take extra care to protect their hearts. pressure, obesity, heart disease, and stroke. During the hot season, the body moves blood from the main organs under the skin. In doing so, it tries to cool itself. This change causes the heart to pump more blood and is subjected to extreme stress, Dr. Namura explained.

Relation With Food

“Pakistani food is rich in salt and spices. They not only add aroma and flavor to food but also help maintain the balance of the human body. But we consume too much. harmful to the human body. Excess sodium in the diet not only causes high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, but also makes you feel full.

“Too much salt in the body also causes thirst. This is because high-sodium foods cause fluid imbalances and only compensate for high fluid intake. Excessive salt intake causes sweating and further dehydration. Therefore, excessive salt intake should be avoided. to calm the body and reduce water loss, especially during the hot summers in Pakistan. This is why the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that the average adult needs to consume less than 2300 milligrams of sodium per day, which is equivalent to a teaspoon of salt The role of salt in hypertensive patients.

“Heart medications that block the blood pressure response or lower the body’s sodium, such as angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics, increase the body’s response to heat.

“Dehydration puts a strain on the heart and puts it at risk. Dehydration helps the heart pump blood from the blood vessels to the muscles and helps the muscles to function efficiently. She is advised to drink about 2-3 liters of water per day in normal weather, while in case of extreme heat it is recommended drink up to 3-5 liters of water.

How to Deal High Blood Pressure

1. Dr. Namura advised exercising in air-conditioned or well-ventilated rooms or a refrigerator. The shade is perfect for hot days. Physical activity should be at least 30 minutes a day. This helps release feel-good hormones and endorphins that repel stress and anxiety. Sit up straight and correct your posture.
2. She said that wearing shorts and a T-shirt exposed her skin and contributed to heat loss from sweat. She recommends wearing materials like cotton that “avoid” sweat on the surface to promote heat loss.
3. Try to eat healthy and balanced food. When taken properly, food is like medicine for the body and is the foundation of healthy mental and physical health. Contains plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds, and grains. Because they contain antioxidants that can help prevent stress. Avoid processed and unhealthy foods whenever possible.
4. It’s okay to stress your body, but too much stress can cause you to lose balance and increase your blood pressure over time. Second, the body has to work twice as hard to restore this balance, which can be another stressor. Therefore, it is important to remain calm and balanced by doing what makes you happy.
5. Adil Ahmed, Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager at NCCI & MHMT, thanked the audience and said that hypertension awareness is urgently needed and that NCCI and the M. Hashim Memorial Foundation should launch a campaign to early-detect hypertension in rural areas. Karachi region.