References:
[1] “Do you understand secondary hypertension?” Department of Cardiology, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital. 2023-08-28
[2] “Professor Jin Lili: Irregular lifestyle and work pressure lead to the rejuvenation of hypertension. Combining Chinese and Western medicine for early treatment is effective.” Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangdong Province. 2021-10-08
[3] “Be alert! These 5 common ‘hypertension signals’, at least half of the people have overlooked them!” Popular Science China. 2023-11-19
Grandpa Xu, 63 years old this year, recently started feeling dizzy. He tossed and turned in bed at night, unable to fall asleep. After exercising, his ears would also ring. Initially, he thought it was just because he didn’t rest well, after all, he had always paid attention to maintaining his health.
To solve this problem, Grandpa Xu decided to adjust his daily routine and insisted on going to bed early and getting up early for a week. However, these symptoms not only did not ease but worsened, with dizziness and insomnia affecting his daily life.
Helpless, Grandpa Xu had to go to the hospital. The doctor examined him, took his blood pressure, and found the values to be abnormally high—170/85mmHg. The doctor told him that he might have hypertension.
Hearing this news, Grandpa Xu was very surprised. He had always thought his lifestyle was quite healthy, so how could he suddenly have high blood pressure?
I. Why do people develop hypertension? Which type is the most dangerous?
Hypertension is like having high pressure in a water pipe. Normally, when the heart pumps blood, there is a high pressure for the blood to flow through the blood vessels, but this pressure is within a certain range. If this pressure is higher than the normal level, it is called hypertension.
Hypertension is a silent health thief that particularly likes to trouble the elderly.
According to the “Chinese Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension in the Elderly 2023,” over half of people over 60 years old have high blood pressure, and among people over 80 years old, almost two out of three have high blood pressure. Hypertension is the main cause of major diseases such as stroke and heart disease in the elderly.
Professor Wu Wei of the Department of General Internal Medicine at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine mentioned that hypertension is mainly divided into two major categories: primary hypertension and secondary hypertension.
1. Primary Hypertension
This is the most common type of hypertension, accounting for over 90% of all hypertension cases.
Primary hypertension refers to a situation where the blood pressure remains consistently higher than 140/90 millimeters of mercury without being caused by other diseases. The specific reasons for it are still unclear but may be related to genetics, unhealthy lifestyle, age, among other factors.
2. Secondary Hypertension
This type of hypertension is caused by other known diseases, such as kidney disease, endocrine disorders, cardiovascular diseases, etc. It is estimated that about 10% to 15% of people in our country have secondary hypertension. If the underlying diseases are treated, hypertension will disappear accordingly.
Between these two types, secondary hypertension is relatively more dangerous because it may indicate more serious diseases. If left untreated, it can endanger the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
However, regardless of the type of hypertension, if left uncontrolled, it will harm the body. It is important to take it seriously and address it properly.
II. Hypertension is not silent—4 signs not to be ignored
Hypertension itself is not scary; what’s truly dangerous is not knowing you have hypertension! In our country, half of hypertension patients are unaware of their condition.
According to the “China Cardiovascular Health and Disease Report 2022,” there are as many as 245 million hypertension patients in China, but only 51.6% are aware of their condition, which means almost half of the patients are unaware of their condition. So, what are the common symptoms of hypertension?
Deputy Chief Physician Wang Xing from the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the 983rd Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force, based on clinical experience, has summarized four symptoms that may indicate hypertension. If you experience the following conditions, you should pay attention:
Dizziness and lightheadedness: This is a very common symptom of hypertension, which may persist or suddenly occur, especially when changing positions quickly, such as from sitting to standing.
Easily exhausted: Elevated blood pressure affects heart function, leading to inadequate oxygen supply to various parts of the body. Hypertensive patients often feel tired and fatigued.
Palpitations and insomnia: Hypertensive patients often experience palpitations and insomnia, such as difficulty falling asleep, waking up early, shallow sleep, easy nightmares, easy waking, etc.
Numbness in limbs: Often feel numbness in the hands and feet, especially in the fingers and toes. It may also be accompanied by muscle soreness, tension, and numbness, with some even feeling that their fingers are not agile.
III. The “culprits” of hypertension are identified; stabilize your blood pressure, and stay away from 4 types of food
Professor Jin Lili, Head of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Cardiology at the Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangdong Province, reminds everyone that to prevent and control hypertension, it is crucial to start with daily lifestyle habits. Especially for men over 55 years old and women over 65 years old, it is important to cultivate healthy lifestyle habits.
A healthy diet is the first step, and there are 4 types of food that are the “culprits” of hypertension, avoid them if possible.
1. High-fat foods
Foods like fast food, fried chicken, and fried foods may taste good, but they contain significant amounts of saturated and trans fats. Consuming these high-fat foods regularly can increase cholesterol levels in the blood, accelerate artery hardening, indirectly affect blood pressure, and increase the risk of heart disease.
2. High-sugar foods
Beverages with added sugars, desserts, candies, and other high-sugar foods may taste good, but regular consumption can lead to weight gain. Obesity is an important risk factor for hypertension. Additionally, high-sugar foods may lead to elevated blood sugar levels, and long-term high blood sugar can damage blood vessels, affecting blood pressure.
3. Alcohol
Alcohol increases the burden on the heart, affects blood vessel health, and may cause sustained high blood pressure.
4. Processed meat products
Processed meat products such as sausages, ham, cured meats, etc., contain high levels of salt and chemical substances. These components may be unfavorable for blood pressure control.
For middle-aged and elderly friends, hypertension is like a time bomb in the body, bringing many health risks. The key is to pay attention to diet, avoid foods that raise blood pressure, and cultivate healthy lifestyle habits to maintain stable blood pressure.
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