Pay attention to chronic diseases and write a healthy dream - Popular science on hypertension

Hypertension is one of the chronic diseases that poses the greatest threat to people's health. There are a large number of people suffering from hypertension in my country, about 245 million people, which means that one in every six adults suffers from hypertension, which is a great challenge for general practitioners.

1. What is hypertension?

Blood pressure is the lateral pressure exerted on the blood vessel wall when blood flows in the blood vessels. Excessive pressure is high blood pressure.

2. How to determine hypertension?

1) Without taking antihypertensive drugs, if the systolic blood pressure is ≥ 140 mmHg and/or the diastolic blood pressure is ≥ 90 mmHg for three consecutive times on different days, hypertension can be diagnosed.

2) Patients with a clear history of hypertension who are receiving antihypertensive medication are also diagnosed with hypertension even if their blood pressure is <140/90 mmHg.

3. What are the clinical symptoms of hypertension?

1) Patients may experience symptoms such as dizziness, headache, tinnitus, tight neck, nosebleed, palpitation, shortness of breath, etc.

2) Some people have no symptoms at all, some even remain asymptomatic throughout their lives, so this group of people should be paid more attention.

4. Why do people get high blood pressure?

1) Genetic factors: 60% of patients with hypertension have a family history of hypertension. If there is hypertension in the family, especially in direct relatives, you must be vigilant.

2) Bad lifestyle habits: high-salt, high-protein, low-potassium diet, overweight and obesity, smoking, excessive drinking, lack of physical activity, long-term mental stress, lack of sleep, etc. can all lead to high blood pressure.

5. What should I do if I have high blood pressure?

1) Lifestyle intervention

Eight steps to healthy living

Limit salt intake, lose weight, and exercise more

Quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, keep a calm mind

Managing diet and sleep

It is difficult not to lower blood pressure

2) Antihypertensive drug treatment

You should start with a small dose and gradually lower your blood pressure. The speed of lowering blood pressure should not be too fast. It is recommended to use long-acting preparations, combined medications, and individualized treatment. Once you are diagnosed with the need to take antihypertensive drugs, you must insist on taking them. If you need to increase your medication, you must do so under the guidance of a doctor. Remember not to make decisions on your own and stop taking the medication at will.

Hypertension is easy to develop but difficult to cure, so prevention is very important. It is best to measure blood pressure regularly and pay attention to changes in blood pressure.

Health science popularization, thank you for your support!

(Picture from the Internet)

Author: Xu Lili, Department of General Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University