I read a great story over the weekend in the New York Times Sunday Magazine titled "High Altitude" and wanted to be sure to share it with you. If you have the time, click here to read the entire article.
In summary, a middle-aged woman starts to feel terrible and her discomfort lasts for over a month. In the beginning she felt tired, suffering from fatigue and weakness. Over the course of the month she became weaker, felt like sleeping all the time, had a hard time getting through the day, felt nauseated and had occasional diarrhea.
She went to her primary care doctor of nearly 20 years for some help and was not listened to. She went to a new doctor looking for help and was taken seriously; this new doctor took tests and would be in touch. The day after visiting with the new doctor, the woman went shopping with her daughter and things went from bad to worse quickly. She had a hard time breathing, she could hear her blood pounding, her eyes starting hurting and she rushed to get home. When she got home the phone rang, it was her new doctor asking her to come in right away with her husband. The news was not good - she had to go to the hospital immediately after her appointment with her physician.
Her platelets were low, her kidneys were failing and her blood pressure was 225/115, alarmingly high. After running a series of tests, ruling out some potential diseases as the culprit, it turns out she had been suffering from untreated high blood pressure for years. She had absolutely no history of being treated for hypertension (high blood pressure). The cause for all her issues, it turns out, was malignant hypertension - a physiological crisis seen in people with chronically untreated high blood pressure.
After six months of treatment the woman finally felt better. She is currenty taking two forms of medicine, her vision is better and her energy is up, but her kidneys are still not working properly. If only she had been properly treated in the beginning by her doctor, all this may have been avoided.
Here are the facts according to the story:
• Although only 1 percent of those with hypertension will develop malignant hypertension, high blood pressure is so common that this, mere 1 percent can translate into hundreds of thousands of cases each year;
• High blood pressure is called “the silent killer” because it is usually asymptomatic and leads to other diseases — like heart disease and stroke — that do the killing;
• The current guidelines put a “normal” blood pressure at less than 120/80 and recommend treatment after two readings over 140/90.
How do you know if you are at risk and what steps should you take if you suffer from hypertension? Read on!
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a disease that very often does not have any symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose without regular screening. Fortunately, the screening process is fast, cheap and effective. Be sure to schedule your regular annual physical that includes a blood pressure check. Other places to have your blood pressure checked include, your dentist's office, hospital clinic, school nurse's office, company clinic, pharmacy, or at a health fair.
Are you at risk?
The following risk factors can influence your likelihood of developing hypertension:
Family history- If your parents or siblings have hypertension you are more likely to develop this disease.
Age and gender- As we age, our blood vessels become less elastic, and this increased rigidity can result in elevated blood pressure. Gender combined with age also has influence: A higher percentage of men than women have hypertension until age 45. From ages 45 to 54 and 55 to 64, the percentages of men and women with hypertension are similar. After that, a much higher percentage of women have hypertension than men.
Lack of physical activity- It’s no secret that physical activity influences cardiovascular health, and the absence of it can increase your risk of developing hypertension.
Diet- A diet low in healthful fruit, vegetables and whole grains is often high in processed foods that are both nutritionally deficient and often loaded with sodium. Sodium can increase blood pressure by causing the body to retain water thus increasing the volume of blood that has to be pumped through the body.
Despite “doing everything right”, one can still develop hypertension, so early detection through screening is the best tool to stay healthy. For useful information check out the American Heart Association’s website at http://www.americanheart.org.
Tips for treating hypertension
If you have already been diagnosed with hypertension there are several steps you can take to stat healthy.
Drugs-Take your prescribed medications. Anti-hypertensive agents and diuretics are the most frequently prescribed.
Exercise- Exercise can help reduce blood pressure. Research shows that the higher the blood pressure and less active the person was to begin with, the greater the likelihood that exercise will be effective in reducing blood pressure.
Weight control- If you are overweight, reduce your portion sizes and exercise more to lose weight. Weight loss is the most effective dietary measure you can take to lower your blood pressure if you are overweight.
Potassium- A high potassium intake can help protect against stroke. Foods high in potassium are: bananas, citrus fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish and poultry.
Sodium/salt- Individuals who are salt-sensitive should try to reduce their salt or sodium intake. Individuals who eat foods high in salt often happen to eat fewer potassium containing foods. Processed foods are usually high in sodium and low in potassium. The American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium intake to 2-3 grams (2000-3000 mg) per day.
Calcium- Calcium may be important in both prevention and treatment of high blood pressure. Studies of populations at risk of developing high blood pressure show that a low dietary intake of calcium correlates with a high prevalence of high blood pressure. Calcium supplements have been shown to lower blood pressure in individuals with and without high blood pressure. It’s recommended that you meet the dietary recommendations for calcium intake. Good sources of calcium are low-fat milk, cheese, yogurt and broccoli.
Alcohol- Two or more drinks per day are associated with high blood pressure and strokes. If you drink alcohol, limit your intake to no more than one drink per day.
Fat- Fat’s contribution to arteriosclerosis is well known, especially saturated fat. Cutting down on saturated fat intake can reduce the risk of complications associated with high blood pressure (heart disease and strokes).
Other factors- Magnesium appears to protect against high blood pressure, and vitamin C also appears to have a protective role. Good sources of magnesium are dark green vegetables, legumes, whole grains and seafood. Good sources of vitamin C are fruits (citrus, especially) and vegetables.
Overall, weight management, exercise and a healthy diet can help protect against the long-term risks associated with high blood pressure. These tips can also improve quality of life, regardless of your age.
Category Blood Pressure Level from the National High Blood Pressure Education Program
Category: Systolic / Diastolic (mm Hg)
Normal: <120 / <80
Pre-Hypertension: 120–139 / 80–89
Stage 1 Hypertension: 140–159 / 90–99
Stage 2 Hypertension: 160 / 100
Source: The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
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