Leaving it alone causes it to burst... Tips for middle-aged 'blood pressure management'

After the health checkup showed high blood pressure readings

I find myself interested in these kinds of writings.

My mom had brain hemorrhage and underwent surgeryㅜ

Learn about middle-aged hypertension management methods.

I think it would be good~

 

 

High blood pressure also affects the kidneys

If high blood pressure persists for a long time, various changes can occur in different parts of the body. First, the heart requires more force as the pressure in the blood vessels increases. When the heart beats more vigorously, the walls of the heart thicken, and if this condition continues, heart failure may develop. Additionally, arteries thicken to withstand high blood pressure, and deposits of fat, calcium, and other substances can accumulate inside, leading to blood clots that may result in cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage. The kidneys are also likely to be affected. High blood pressure can damage the kidneys, causing proteins to appear in the urine, and eventually, this often progresses to chronic kidney disease.

The exact cause of hypertension has not been identified. It is known to result from a complex interaction of factors such as family history, smoking, obesity, excessive sodium intake, and lack of exercise. If one parent has hypertension, the likelihood of their children developing it also increases. Additionally, severe obesity can increase the volume of circulating blood, which may raise blood pressure. Alcohol and tobacco constrict blood vessels and make the blood more viscous, leading to increased blood pressure, and excessive sodium intake can also raise blood pressure. If you are in a high-risk group for hypertension, you should regularly monitor your blood pressure.

Hypertension in middle-aged women is closely related to menopause. The female hormone estrogen has a vasodilatory effect, but when hormone levels decrease due to menopause, the vasodilatory effect also diminishes, leading to relatively constricted blood vessels and increased blood pressure. Additionally, postmenopausal weight gain, lack of exercise, and various physical changes due to aging are believed to contribute to higher rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome, which in turn raise blood pressure.

The most important thing for managing hypertension is accurate blood pressure measurement. When measuring blood pressure, the readings often vary, making it confusing whether one has hypertension or not. In such cases, you should suspect 'white coat hypertension.' White coat hypertension refers to normal blood pressure readings that increase due to stress when meeting a doctor. Even among actual hypertensive patients, there are many cases where there is a significant difference between blood pressure readings in the clinic and at home, so it is important to measure blood pressure accurately at home.

According to the treatment guidelines of the Korean Society of Hypertension, blood pressure is classified as hypertension if the systolic blood pressure is 140 mmHg or higher or the diastolic blood pressure is 90 mmHg or higher. If blood pressure measured at home consistently exceeds 135/85 mmHg, it can be considered hypertension. Additionally, a systolic blood pressure of 130-139 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure of 80-89 mmHg is defined as pre-hypertension, and management should be initiated.

While medication is necessary for hypertension treatment, eliminating risk factors in daily life is also important. For patients diagnosed with hypertension for the first time, blood pressure can be lowered through lifestyle modifications. Occasionally, some patients believe that they can maintain their bad habits because they are taking blood pressure medication, but this mindset must be abandoned. Improving lifestyle habits can enhance the additional antihypertensive effects of medication therapy. Lifestyle changes are necessary even to reduce the dosage of medication.

Preventing hypertension can be achieved through active aerobic exercise, a healthy diet, weight loss, quitting smoking, and moderating alcohol intake. Young people, especially those with a family history of hypertension or cardiovascular diseases, or those with risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and hyperlipidemia, should measure their blood pressure frequently.

Health Chosun Reporter Oh Sang-hoon osh@chosun.com