Los Angeles, March 21 (SinEmbargo).- High blood pressure isn’t solely the result of a patient’s lack of self-care, according to physician Fernanda Montes de Oca, a specialist in sciences in nutrition and advanced immunology. Instead, it’s a disease that alters the structure of the system that regulates blood pressure, making its management more tricky, she adds.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2024, 1.4 billion adults will have hypertension, representing 33 percent of the population aged 30 to 79 years. Of these, approximately 600 million are unaware they have the condition, and only 23 percent have their blood pressure controlled. This highlights the significant public health challenge of undetected and unmanaged hypertension worldwide.
High blood pressure can lead to multiple health complications, such as cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and kidney problems.
The Physiology Behind Hypertension
Montes de Oca explains that blood pressure regulation is intrinsically linked to blood behavior within blood vessels. Turbulent flow can damage the endothelium, the inner layer of arteries, exacerbating hypertension. The endothelium isn’t just a vessel lining. it’s an active organ that regulates vascular tone, producing nitric oxide to dilate arteries, inhibit inflammation, and optimize blood flow. When damaged, it stops protecting and begins to contribute to the problem.
“The endothelium is not just a coating of vessels. It’s an active organ that regulates vascular tone. It produces nitric oxide that ‘opens the vessel,’ inhibits inflammation, keeps the blood flowing where it should; and, when injured, stops protecting and begins to participate in the problem,” she explains.
Vascular stiffness, lipid buildup, and changes in vessel diameter are some elements that lead to increased resistance to blood flow.
Key Components in Hypertension Progression
The kidneys likewise play a central role, perceiving reduced blood flow and activating hormonal mechanisms that increase blood pressure. This cycle perpetuates itself, making hypertension a self-sustaining disease. Several factors influence the development of hypertension, including smoking, overweight, age, sedentary lifestyle, and stress, which can interact in ways that significantly affect vascular health.
Diagnosis and Prevention
Identifying hypertension is crucial. Medical professionals emphasize the importance of early detection and medical follow-up. Anomalous patterns should be observed, and it’s recommended to measure blood pressure in both arms to correctly assess vascular health.
While healthy habits can slow the progression of hypertension, Montes de Oca stresses that completely reversing it isn’t always possible. This understanding underscores the need for proactive management and personalized treatment plans.
Common Symptoms of Hypertension
Hypertension, often known as the “silent killer,” typically doesn’t present noticeable symptoms in most cases, so regular blood pressure monitoring is recommended. Symptoms only appear in severe or emergency situations (when it exceeds 180/120 mm Hg) and require immediate attention.
- Common symptoms. The most common symptoms to monitor include intense headaches (especially in the morning at the nape of the neck), dizziness or lightheadedness upon standing, and blurred vision or sudden changes in sight. Other frequent indicators are ringing in the ears, nausea, unusual fatigue, and palpitations.
- Emergency signs. In hypertensive crises, watch for chest pain, difficulty breathing, weakness or numbness, severe back or abdominal pain, and confusion or seizures. If these appear, measure blood pressure and seek urgent medical attention to avoid damage to organs such as the heart, brain, or kidneys.
