There are 270 million hypertensive patients in China, and they tend to be younger! The doctor’s advice came.
This article is transferred from: Guangxi News Network
May 17th is the 18th World Hypertension Day, and this year’s theme is "Accurate measurement, effective control, health and longevity". It is understood that hypertension is one of the chronic diseases with the largest number of patients in China, and it tends to be younger, but the awareness rate, treatment rate and control rate of hypertension are not optimistic. Experts suggest that blood pressure should be measured once a year from the age of 18. For this lifestyle disease, prevention and treatment must start from the source.
High incidence vs low awareness rate
Ms. Wu, a citizen of Nanning, said that her mother was often dizzy, but she never suspected that it was a blood pressure problem. Last year, her mother was found to have hypertension because she measured her blood pressure when she was vaccinated. Ms. Liao, a citizen of Nanning, said that there is no habit of measuring blood pressure at ordinary times, and it will only be measured during physical examination, and she is not clear about her blood pressure. Although Ms. Zhu found hypertension, she did not follow the doctor’s advice. When there are no symptoms at ordinary times, she doesn’t take medicine; She only takes antihypertensive drugs and measures her blood pressure when she is dizzy and has a headache.
"Healthy China Action (2019-2030)" shows that there are 270 million hypertensive patients in China, and the prevalence rate of hypertension among residents aged 18 and above is 25.2%, and it is on the rise. Ji Qingwei, chief physician of Cardiovascular Department of Autonomous Region People’s Hospital, said: "At present, the awareness rate, treatment rate and control rate of hypertension in China are very low."
In contrast to the high incidence, it is the low awareness rate of hypertension. According to "Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension in China (revised edition in 2018)", the awareness rate of hypertension patients in China is 51.6%.
Ji Qingwei introduced that hypertension is a systemic disease caused by the superposition of genetic and environmental risk factors. Too salty diet, nervous mood, excessive stress, obesity, overweight, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, smoking, alcoholism and lack of exercise are all risk factors for hypertension.
Long-term hypertension is harmful
Luo Yaochang, deputy chief physician of the Interventional Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of guangxi university of chinese medicine, said that hypertension is easily overlooked and is an "invisible killer" of human health. For example, if hypertension is not treated for a long time, it will cause aortic dissection, which is a very dangerous kind of cardiovascular disease.
A 49-year-old man suddenly suffered from chest and back pain, and was admitted to the hospital 8 hours later. The doctor found that the patient’s blood pressure was 232/126mmHg, and the aortic dissection was accompanied by severe stenosis of both renal arteries. Mr. Luo, a 42-year-old, suffered from recurrent abdominal pain and pain in both lower limbs for one month. When he went to the hospital, he was found to be related to hypertension and caused aortic dissection. In Ji Qingwei’s department, patients with aortic dissection are often treated.
Ji Qingwei said that aortic dissection is the most critical complication of hypertension. Due to long-term overload, the aortic blood vessels suddenly produce small cracks. When blood enters the aortic wall from the cracks, it will gradually tear the membrane in the middle of the aortic wall, eventually leading to aortic rupture. Most patients suddenly feel severe chest pain, irritability, sweating, a sense of dying, and even syncope due to pain; A small number of patients have no warning at the onset, and they die suddenly in a short time, so there is no time to implement rescue.
Ji Qingwei said that in clinic, many patients with hypertension even had systolic blood pressure exceeding 200mmHg when they came to see a doctor, but they were never treated. Some patients say that they usually have no symptoms and feel that it is unnecessary to take medicine. Some patients are influenced by the traditional idea that taking medicine for a long time will have side effects, so they resist treatment. However, if hypertension is left unchecked, it will bury a "time bomb" for the body.
"The harm of hypertension lies in its heavy burden on various organs of the whole body. If left unchecked, long-term effects will gradually lead to damage to target organs such as heart, brain and kidney, and even stroke or myocardial infarction. The higher the blood pressure, the greater the harm. " Clinically, Ji Qingwei has seen too many such cases. A 20-year-old female patient suddenly couldn’t excrete urine for several days. When she came to the hospital for a check-up, the doctor found that the patient’s diastolic blood pressure had reached 200mmHg, and she had renal damage. She entered the late stage of uremia, and the patient could only undergo hemodialysis or kidney transplantation. "Generally speaking, target organ damage will occur when systolic blood pressure exceeds 160mmHg and diastolic blood pressure exceeds 100mmHg for more than 5 years."
Developing a good lifestyle is the key.
Ji Qingwei introduced that most patients with hypertension have no symptoms, and a small number of patients will have symptoms such as dizziness, headache, palpitation, chest tightness and eye swelling. He suggested that blood pressure be measured once a year from the age of 18. People over 40 years old should have regular physical examination and pay attention to blood pressure measurement. Once you are diagnosed with hypertension, you must intervene correctly under the guidance of a doctor.
Patients with mild hypertension can take non-drug treatment to control their blood pressure under the guidance of doctors. If non-drug treatment can’t achieve the effect, then take drug treatment. Patients with moderate to severe hypertension must be treated with standardized medication under the guidance of a doctor. "The earlier the treatment, the greater the benefit, and the earlier the blood pressure is controlled, which can minimize the overall risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and death."
In addition, hypertension is a lifestyle disease, and the prevention and treatment must start from the source, strengthen exercise, control diet, reasonable diet and lose weight, so as to grasp the root.
Have you been recruited for the six common misunderstandings of hypertension?
Myth 1: blood pressure is high but I don’t feel it. Is it a big problem?
According to Healthy China Action (2019-2030), hypertension can be diagnosed by measuring systolic blood pressure ≥140mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90mmHg three times on the same day without using antihypertensive drugs.
Experts pointed out that the blood pressure of most patients with hypertension is gradually rising, so there is no obvious feeling, but hypertension always damages the blood vessels, heart, kidneys and other organs of patients. If not treated in time, hypertension will lead to health problems such as stroke, myocardial infarction, renal failure and aortic dissection.
Myth 2: Young, won’t get high blood pressure?
Hypertension can occur at any age. With age, the risk of hypertension increases. In recent years, more and more young people suffer from hypertension, so young people also need to be screened for hypertension.
It should be noted that if parents or close relatives have hypertension, then I may also have hypertension. However, adhering to a healthy lifestyle every day can delay or even prevent hypertension.
Myth 3: Blood pressure is high in winter and normal in summer. Can you reduce the dosage?
There are seasonal changes in blood pressure, which is generally high in winter and low in summer. Especially for patients with mild hypertension, their blood pressure will decrease in summer, and they can keep normal without taking antihypertensive drugs.
Zhang Weili, a researcher at the State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, China Academy of Medical Sciences, said that if the blood pressure is below 120mmHg/80mmHg through lifestyle improvement and medication, and it can remain stable for several weeks, patients can reduce the dosage under the guidance of doctors. However, patients should also pay attention to continuous monitoring of blood pressure, and once it rises, they should seek medical advice in time.
Myth 4: The blood pressure is lower than 140/90mmHg, so can I stop taking the medicine?
Experts suggest that patients should not stop taking drugs on their own, and should strictly follow the doctor’s advice and gradually reduce their observation. Normal blood pressure is the result of drug control, not the "cure" of hypertension. The key point of blood pressure is control. Self-withdrawal of drugs may lead to another increase in blood pressure, and most patients with hypertension need to take drugs for life.
A healthy and scientific lifestyle can help prevent or manage hypertension, but it can’t cure it. For people with high-risk hypertension, antihypertensive drugs should be given immediately.
Myth 5: Is it faster and lower to lower blood pressure, the better?
Stable blood pressure can make the human body have good blood circulation and help protect the function of the target organs of heart, brain and kidney blood vessels. Both high blood pressure and low blood pressure will have a certain impact on the body, so the faster and lower blood pressure does not mean that the better and safer.
"Too fast blood pressure drop will lead to hypoperfusion of the brain, especially in the elderly who are prone to dizziness or fall." Zhang Huimin, chief physician of the Hypertension Center of Fuwai Hospital of China Academy of Medical Sciences, said that antihypertensive treatment should be slow and steady, and it is usually safe to reach the standard within two to four weeks.
Myth 6: Without hypertension, do you still need to measure your blood pressure regularly?
It is very important to measure blood pressure regularly, especially for people who have been diagnosed with hypertension. Patients with hypertension are measured 2~3 times in the morning and evening, and those with normal blood pressure are measured at least once a year. The public should always record the blood pressure measurement results to ensure that the daily blood pressure is controlled below 135/85mmHg.
Overweight or obesity, high-salt diet, smoking, long-term drinking, long-term mental stress and insufficient physical activity are the high-risk groups of hypertension. High-risk groups should regularly measure their blood pressure and receive health guidance from medical staff. "Healthy China Action (2019-2030)" proposes that adults aged 18 and above regularly monitor their blood pressure, pay attention to blood pressure changes, and control risk factors for hypertension; The public with normal high blood pressure of 120-139mmHg/80-89mmHg should pay attention to controlling risk factors as early as possible.
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