The number of people with hypertension increased from 594 million to 1.13 billion in 2015. The majority of the hike was seen in people from the low-and middle-income countries. hypertension is the biggest reason for premature deaths in today’s world. in case you are wondering where to avail the best high blood pressure treatment in Kolkata, Dr. Amitabha Saha is the best physician to go to.
General Causes Of High Blood Pressure
There are a lot of symptoms and complications of having high blood pressure. Some of the general causes that lead to a person having hypertension are –
- People who suffer from obesity tend to have much higher blood pressure.
- Eating excessive salt and a minimal amount of fruits and vegetables can lead to the person having high blood pressure.
- Our body needs constant movement and exercise to stay fit and well-functioning, the lack of it can lead to high blood pressure.
- Smoking and excessive alcohol intake.
- Having too much coffee or other caffeine-based products.
- Having high blood pressure can be transmitted hereditarily.
- Having an irregular sleep schedule can affect a person’s blood pressure too.
- Potassium helps balance out the sodium in our cells. The lack of potassium intake can affect our heart health and cause higher blood pressure.
- Stress is the most common cause of hypertension.
- The risk of having high blood pressure increases as a person proceeds towards old age,
- The race of a person also comes to play when it comes to hypertension. People of African descent are more likely to have heart problems and high blood pressure.
Symptoms That A Person With High Blood Pressure Might Face
There are no significant signs that a person has high blood pressure. Even when the blood pressure levels reach a dangerously high level, the patient is not bound to face severe symptoms. Although some patients might face symptoms like shortness of breath, headache, tightening of the chest, dizziness, nausea, and even nosebleeds. Doctors relate heart disease and blood pressure to each other because having high blood pressure can cause heart failure and other heart-related diseases. So it is very important to keep one’s blood pressure under check.
Common risk factors are obesity, unhealthy diet, sleeping patterns, stress, etc. new emerging risks are loss of greenery, polluted air and water, and exposure to high decibels of noise. Scientists are researching new risk factors that can cause hypertension in a patient. Some of those are low birth weight. Because so many people in low- and middle-income countries are unaware and undiagnosed of their hypertension, it creates situations like the low patient-to-physician ratio. It also contributes to higher costs of healthcare.
What Are The Two Different Types Of Hypertension?
Primary Or Essential Hypertension – there are no causes behind this type of hypertension. This generally happens as a person proceeds towards old age.
Secondary Hypertension – in some cases hypertension in a patient is caused by underlying conditions. Various conditions can lead to secondary hypertension like thyroid, sleep apnea, kidney diseases, adrenal gland tumors, and congenital defects. This type of hypertension can also be caused by birth control, certain prescription drugs like pain relievers, cold medicines, decongestants, etc, and also due to intake of illegal drugs like cocaine.
What The New Report From WHO Indicates On High Blood Pressure?
A recent report by WHO, co-led by Imperial College London, stated that 82% of people out of all the people with hypertension live in low and middle-income countries. Some of the highest rates of hypertension cases were found in Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and Paraguay for the women, and Hungary, Paraguay, and Poland for men. Although hypertension can be treated and easily kept under control with the right diagnosis and medical care, the high rates in these areas showed significant ignorance in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.
Almost 600 million people who have high blood pressure, are totally in the shadow regarding hypertension and its causes and effects. They continue to lead a life with things that possibly trigger their high blood pressure. The report also indicated that almost half the people with hypertension are undiagnosed and unmedicated. That makes a total of about 720 million people with hypertension and no treatment or measures to keep it under control. It is said that sleep helps the body to regulate the metabolism and keep us healthy and that’s why timely sleep is needed. In today’s world, as more and more people are working night shifts in IT sectors and various other fields, the lack of sleep is leading to hypertension and other heart-related risks at a very early age. It is generally unnatural for a person to experience hypertension at a very young age, but these factors like irregular sleeping patterns can cause premature hypertension.
People in countries like South Korea, Canada, and Iceland are most aware of the ailment and actively get their blood pressure checked often. The people who get diagnosed with high blood pressure, receive timely treatment and care and as a result, they keep their high blood pressures under control. This study was done back in 2019. On the other hand, the study showed that people in Central, South, and Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and pacific islands receive the least amount of medication regarding hypertension. Now, this can be the result of negligence or unawareness. It can also be a result of the orthodox mindset people in these countries carry which stops them from seeking advanced medical help and instead they try to cure their ailments with homemade procedures.
Dr. Amitabha Saha’s Take On Hypertension In Low- And Middle-income Countries (LMICs)
According to Dr. Amitabha Saha, almost 50 years after hypertension is being diagnosed and treated, it is a matter of public health failure that so many people are not receiving any treatments or support. Especially when the medicines are so low-cost and easy to avail. In the doctor’s opinion, Common risk factors are obesity, unhealthy diet, sleeping patterns, stress, etc. new emerging risks are loss of greenery, polluted air and water, and exposure to high decibels of noise. Scientists are researching new risk factors that can cause hypertension in a patient. Some of those are low birth weight. Because so many people in low- and middle-income countries are unaware and undiagnosed of their hypertension, it creates situations like the low patient-to-physician ratio. It also contributes to higher costs of healthcare.
A Word Of Advice
There are various medical and natural treatments for high blood pressure. Not only does a person have to take their prescribed medication on time but also look after their lifestyle and make necessary changes to it. Lifestyle problems are the biggest enemies in today’s world. Lack of healthy food and sleep and an excessive amount of stress are the major causes of hypertension. To beat the disease, not only is it important to take extra precautions and lead a stable lifestyle but also it is important to consult a physician whenever you feel unwell. There are no symptoms of your blood pressure increasing or decreasing, it is you who has to keep it under check regularly to avoid any mishaps. The best heart specialist in Kolkata is Dr. Amitabha Saha. He is the best person to consult when it comes to hypertension and related diseases.