You may wonder why I am writing to a bunch of youth about hypertension when it is [supposedly] an “old person’s disease.” But it is precisely because it’s not an “old person’s” disease that I am addressing it. It is a major health problem affecting 1 out of every 3 Nigerian adults. Even youth younger than 30 years are not spared, as more than 23% of this group also has hypertension.
A young person checking her blood pressure
Definition
But what exactly is hypertension? Hypertension, simply defined, is persistently elevated blood pressure. It is diagnosed when the blood pressure is measured on 2 different occasions and each time, the blood pressure (BP) reading is greater than [or equal to] 140/90 mmHg.
Causes?
Hypertension hardly ever has one definite cause. Instead a collection of risk factors increase the likelihood that you will have hypertension. These are: family history, being overweight, salt-heavy diet, smoking & using alcohol.
Symptoms
So someone now will say to me, “But Doc, I’ve measured my BP several times and it was high but I feel fine. I have no symptoms.” My reply is that hypertension is not called “the silent killer” for no reason. The truth is hypertension does not have symptoms except when complicated.
Complications
So, what are the complications of hypertension? These are the life-threatening end points of uncontrolled hypertension. The persistently elevated blood pressure damages blood vessels that supply all the vital body organs like the brain, heart, kidneys & eyes and can at last block or burst those vessels. This will lead to strokes, blindness, heart failure, and kidney failure & sudden death.
Treatment and Prevention
How then do we treat hypertension & prevent its complications?
- A. Seek care early – don’t keep quiet, don’t sweep it under the rug.
- B. Improve your lifestyle – lose weight, eat healthy, quit smoking, drink moderately or better yet—not at all.
- C. Be regular with medications & clinic visits and do not stop unless your doctor says so.
Conclusion
Hypertension is very common & silently fatal. But you can prevent it. Even, you can control it.
