Popularly known as high blood pressure, hypertension is defined by the sustained elevation of blood pressure levels. Individuals considered hypertensive have blood pressure equal to or greater than 14 to 9. The disease is considered silent, since it may not show symptoms over the years.
The condition is one of the main risk factors for the development of cardiovascular and kidney diseases, in addition to being frequently associated with other chronic problems and events such as sudden death, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and peripheral arterial disease.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) estimates that more than a quarter of adult women and four out of ten adult men have hypertension on the continent. However, both diagnosis, treatment and control have been ineffective. According to PAHO, only a few countries have a population hypertension control rate greater than 50%.
According to the Ministry of Health, high blood pressure was responsible for 110.5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in Brazil in 2019. In 2021, about 6.1 million more hypertension visits were performed than in 2020 in the country .
This May 17th, the World Hypertension Day highlights the importance of prevention, early diagnosis and disease control.
How is high blood pressure diagnosed?
Early diagnosis of hypertension helps to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, among other health problems. High blood pressure makes the heart work harder, which increases the risk of damage to the body.
Among the most common symptoms are dizziness, shortness of breath, palpitations, frequent headache and change in vision. However, most cases do not present symptoms, and periodic measurement is the main form of diagnosis. The Ministry of Health recommends that, from the age of 20, people perform the procedure at least once a year. Individuals with a family history of the disease should have their blood pressure checked at least twice during this period.
Blood pressure can be measured in a simple and non-invasive way in Basic Health Units (BHUs). The Unified Health System (SUS) also offers treatment and monitoring to control the disease. To withdraw the medicines, simply present an identity document with photo, CPF and medical prescription within the validity period, which is 120 days.
How to prevent hypertension?
Obesity, family history, stress and aging are associated with the development of hypertension. In addition, lifestyle habits such as a high-sodium diet, smoking, alcohol abuse and a sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to the development of the disease.
According to the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC), overweight and obesity can accelerate the onset of the disease by up to ten years, as well as the exaggerated consumption of salt, which, associated with inadequate eating habits, also contribute to the emergence of the disease. of the disease.
check out five strategies recommended by the Ministry of Health to prevent hypertension and its complications:
The president of the Department of Arterial Hypertension (DHA) of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC), Audes Feitosa, points out that hypertension has risk factors that are modifiable and other non-modifiable, such as genetic predisposition and aging.
The habit of smoking, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, diabetes and other diseases with cardiac causes are part of the set of risk factors. “In addition, if possible, it is also important that the person tries to combat stress”, says the doctor.
The daily salt intake recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) is less than 5 grams per day, equivalent to a teaspoon, which contains around 2 grams of sodium. Experts recommend avoiding adding salt to ready meals and reducing the amount in culinary preparations. Processed and processed food products also contribute significantly to excess salt consumption.
Source: CNN Brasil
