Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease in today’s society, which is closely related to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke and renal damage, and has become an important public health problem affecting people’s health and social development.
What is blood pressure? What is hypertension?
Blood pressure (BP): It is the lateral pressure (pressure) of the blood flowing in the blood vessel on the unit area of the blood vessel wall.
Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease in China. It refers to a group of clinical syndromes with systolic blood pressure exceeding 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure exceeding 90 mmHg (measured three times on different days) without taking antihypertensive drugs, often accompanied by systemic diseases with organ damage such as heart, brain, kidney, aorta and retina. Hypertension can be divided into two types: 1. Essential hypertension: The cause of this type of hypertension is unknown, usually related to genetic, environmental and living habits and other factors. 2. Secondary hypertension: This type of hypertension is caused by other diseases or conditions, such as renal artery stenosis, pheochromocytoma, etc. The risk factors for hypertension include:
High sodium, low potassium diet: High sodium diet is an important risk factor for hypertension. Overweight and obesity: Excessive body mass index (BMI) is associated with an increased risk of hypertension. Excessive alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can raise blood pressure. Long-term mental stress: Long-term mental stress and tension may lead to elevated blood pressure. Once diagnosed with hypertension, it is usually necessary to take antihypertensive drugs for a long time to control blood pressure.
Hypertension treatment error: error one: normal blood pressure can stop: hypertension is a lifelong management of the disease, even if the blood pressure is normal should not stop. Mistake 2: The faster the blood pressure drops, the better: Antihypertensive treatment should be carried out smoothly to avoid complications caused by the rapid drop of blood pressure. Mistake 3: It doesn’t matter if the elderly have high blood pressure: regardless of age, high blood pressure may have a serious impact on health, especially in the elderly.
Hypertension requires attention to the following aspects:
1. Reasonable diet: reduce sodium intake: daily salt intake should be controlled below 5 grams.
Increase potassium intake: Eat more potassium-rich foods, such as beetroot and other fresh vegetables containing nitrates, green leafy vegetables, etc. Increase the intake of protein, high-quality carbohydrates, potassium and dietary fiber.
2. Weight control: Overweight and obese patients should lose weight. Body mass index (BMI) was maintained at 18.5 to 23.9 kg/m2 with waist circumference < 90 cm for men and < 85 cm for women.
3. Quit smoking and limit alcohol: All smokers are strongly advised to quit smoking and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Limit alcohol intake to no more than 25 G daily for men and 15 G daily for women.
4. Regular exercise: For those with good blood pressure control, aerobic exercise (moderate intensity, 30 minutes a day, 5 to 7 days a week) is recommended, supplemented by resistance exercise (2 to 3 times a week). It is also recommended to combine breathing training with flexibility and stretching training. Uncontrolled blood pressure (systolic blood pressure > 160mmHg): High-intensity exercise is not recommended.
5. Reduce mental stress: use cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness and meditation, yoga, deep
Breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, listening to music and other methods can effectively relieve mental stress.
6. Maintain healthy sleep: It is recommended to sleep 7 to 9 hours every night to ensure the quality of sleep and develop good habits of work and rest.
Hypertension is not terrible, as long as we pay enough attention to it and take correct prevention and treatment measures, we can effectively control it. We should strengthen the management of hypertension at the grass-roots level, pay attention to the face-to-face follow-up four times a year, strengthen the publicity and education of patients, teach them the correct measurement methods and lifestyle, control the blood pressure to the greatest extent, and reduce the morbidity rate of hypertension complications.
