Hypertension: increased risk of death from complications
Currently, people around the world are concerned about the spread of the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) currently classifies high blood pressure (hypertension) as the greatest global health risk.
Despite millions of sufferers, high blood pressure (arterial hypertension) is still often underestimated. Because many people do not know that high blood pressure is the cause of an increased risk of death from complications such as heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. The WHO currently classifies hypertension as the greatest global health risk. This is what the German High Pressure League e.V. DHL® points out in a current announcement.
Strokes and heart attacks are often due to high blood pressure
At the moment, the corona pandemic is taking a back seat to other serious medical conditions, such as strokes and heart attacks, which are often due to high blood pressure.
In Germany, more than 45,000 people die from a heart attack and more than 27,000 people from a stroke every year – and around half of these diseases are attributable to arterial hypertension.
As a result, hypertension causes almost five times as many deaths each year as Germany has so far as a result of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (as of May 12, 2020: 7,500 COVID-19 victims).
Almost every third adult has values that are too high
According to the high pressure league, almost every third adult in this country has blood pressure levels that are too high. On average, every second person over the age of 60 is affected and therefore has a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular and vascular diseases.
As the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) explains on the portal “gesundheitsinformation.de”, a constantly increased blood pressure can favor cardiovascular diseases and lead to organ damage.
Possible secondary diseases of high blood pressure are therefore circulatory disorders in the legs (PAD), heart muscle weakness (heart failure), heart attack, stroke and kidney damage.
The high death rate, massive restrictions on the quality of life due to complications from high blood pressure and the associated burdens on the health budget could be significantly reduced.
Because although hypertension is not curable, effective prevention and consistent treatment can reduce the dangerous consequences such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure and dementia.
Hypertension remains symptom-free for a long time
The problem is that high blood pressure is asymptomatic for a long time. Affected people have no complaints and usually do not check their blood pressure regularly.
If – often by chance – elevated values are found, many do not take the recommendations for lowering blood pressure seriously enough and do not worry about the possible consequences.
“A little too high blood pressure” is often dismissed as a condition disorder. Knowing the dangers alone hardly motivates people to take active action.
However, the longer hypertension remains undetected and untreated, the higher the likelihood of blood pressure-related organ damage to the heart, brain and kidneys, as well as the increased risk of death. However, this is not addressed enough as a problem by society.
change of lifestyle
An urgent change in lifestyle is already indicated at a limit of 130/80 mmHg.
Above all, more physical exercise, a more balanced diet, less alcohol, stress reduction and, preferably, no more smoking are the most important factors that each person affected can individually influence in order to significantly reduce blood pressure.
For values measured over a longer period of time from 140/90 mmHg, medication should also be started, according to the German Hypertension League.
There are numerous antihypertensive preparations that can be well tolerated, individually adjusted and combined.
Many sufferers do not take their medication regularly
Another high hurdle on the way to permanently well-adjusted blood pressure is in many cases the patient’s adherence to therapy.
Once suitable therapeutic measures have been initiated, it is important that the patients actually take the prescribed medication.
“Because the effect of lowering blood pressure only lasts as long as the tablets are taken regularly. The disease is chronic and the therapy must therefore be continued permanently and conscientiously, ”explains Professor Ulrich Wenzel, CEO of DHL.
But not all of those affected can do this to a sufficient extent. Only two out of three treated patients manage to adjust their blood pressure to the target value. (ad)
Sources:
- German high pressure league: “Pressure down. Feel good! ”- World Hypertension Day 2020, (access: May 13, 2020), German Hypertension League
- Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG): Hypertension (hypertension), (access: May 13, 2020), gesundheitsinformation.de
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Important NOTE:
This article contains general information only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.
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