Hypertension - the silent killer; Jamaican men at severe risk as signs of high blood pressure grow
Published:Sunday | April 7, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Dr Chloe Morris, Contributor
Today is being recognised as World Health Day with the emphasis on
Hypertension, commonly called high blood pressure, is one of the leading causes of morbidity in the Jamaican population and the figures show that males are affected more than females.
The health of the male population is in no way more or less important than the health of the female, but it is different.
Men and women have different health needs and are affected differently by various diseases and illnesses and access services in different ways and for different reasons.
The statistics worldwide have shown that men do not access the health services where they are provided and ultimately have not been paying enough attention to their health.
They, therefore, end up in hospitals when it is most times too late for medical assistance, which is one of the reasons their life expectancy is shorter than their female counterpart.
The situation is compounded when dealing with high blood pressure, which is termed the silent killer, and is especially dangerous because people can have it for years without knowing.
What is it? Blood pumping through the circulatory system is under pressure, much like the water in the pipes of a hose.
And just as too much water pressure can damage pipes and faucets, high blood pressure cause blood to be pressured through the veins and arteries, and this can be a cause of great trouble. Hypertension occurs when the force exerted against artery walls is abnormally high.
MEASURING BLOOD PRESSURE
Blood pressure is measured using two numbers - systolic and diastolic pressure. Systolic, the upper number, is the pressure when the heart is beating. Diastolic, the lower number, is the pressure between beats. Normal blood pressure is considered to be anything below 120/80.
However, each person should know what the normal numbers are for them, since any deviation could be a cause of concern. One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure
Typically, blood pressure increases with age. Risk of high blood pressure begins to climb when men hit 45, although it can occur in younger men. In men of African descent, the tendency is for earlier development and the condition being severe hypertension.
Given the higher levels of blood pressure in men compared with women, it is not surprising that they are at greater risk for most of the complications of hypertension, including coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and renal disease.
If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can also cause blindness. The risk of developing these complications is higher in the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes.
Although both men and women suffer from coronary disease later in life, below the age of 65 years, acute heart attack has a striking male predominance.
The association between higher blood pressure and risk of renal disease has been especially well-documented in men. There are striking and unexplained differences in cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive men compared with women.
Men who fear going to the doctor ought to know that the test for high blood pressure is very simple, and certainly not painful.
It is usually diagnosed using the familiar blood pressure test that involves a cuff wrapped around the upper arm. The cuff is inflated and then sensors measure the pressure of blood beating against the arteries.
REDUCING RISK
Many factors can lead to high blood pressure but it is preventable and treatable. The risk of developing high blood pressure can be reduced by:
the diet and life style behaviour, reducing salt intake; eating a balanced diet; which emphasises plenty of fruits and vegetables and low-fat or non-fat dairy products and increased potassium;
avoiding harmful use of alcohol; men who drink alcohol should stick to no more than two standard drinks a day, and if you smoke, the advice is obvious: Get serious about quitting!
- learning to manage stress;
- taking regular physical activity;
- maintaining a healthy body weight.
There are drugs that can be prescribed by your doctor, which should be taken based on how they are prescribed.
As effective as these drugs can be at controlling blood pressure, if you get to the point of needing them, you may have to take them for the rest of your life.
That is one more good reason to focus on prevention. As a preventive measure men need to take responsibility to prevent the complications attached to this disease.