World Hypertension Day: 10 Per Cent Increase In COVID Patients With High BP In Second Wave

New Delhi: Today, (May 17) is observed as World Hypertension Day globally. Hypertension is a condition related to high blood pressure and happens when your blood pressure rises to unhealthy levels. A person has hypertension if his/her blood pressure is above 140/90, and the condition will be considered severe if the measurements go over 180/120.

It is estimated that 30 per cent of the world’s population is suffering from hypertension. It is expected to increase to 29 per cent by 2025, driven largely by the rise in economically developing nations.

What’s hypertension?

The condition develops over a period of time with a potential patient not noticing any initial symptoms. High blood pressure can cause damage to the blood vessels and organs, especially the brain, heart, eyes, and kidneys.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ”Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure. Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of the body in the vessels. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the vessels. Blood pressure is created by the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels (arteries) as it is pumped by the heart. The higher the pressure, the harder the heart has to pump.”

This year’s theme

‘Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer ‘- is the theme of World Hypertension Day 2021. It is meant to create awareness and communicate about accurately measuring blood pressure regularly. Blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for heart diseases, kidney problems, and dementia.

Symptoms

Headache, shortness of breath, nosebleed. However, these signs and symptoms aren’t specific and usually don’t occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage.

The common reasons behind the condition include age, family history, being overweight or obese, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, using too much salt in your food, drinking too much alcohol and high levels of stress.

COVID and Hypertension

Dr Gobu P, Senior Consultant, and Interventional Cardiologist – Department of Cardiology at Gleneagles Global Health City told DT Next, that COVID patients with hypertensive comorbidity condition have increased up to 10 per cent in the second wave

“Also, hypertensive patients are at increased risk of developing more severe COVID-19 compared to having normal blood pressure. The COVID patients with hypertension will have more symptoms of cardiac issues such as accumulation of fluid in the lungs adding to the breathlessness. To avoid risk, they should continue their medication. Most people, when they test positive for COVID, don’t take proper medicines or completely stop medication for hypertension, later it leads to cardiac arrest,” he said.

People with COVID-19 and hypertension with low heart function tend to develop serious heart problems. During the past few weeks, doctors claimed that patients with these complications have doubled up.

“Hypertension is an inflammatory disorder. When the inflammation increases in the body, even the cardiovascular system goes in for inflammation, the reason for heart attack or stroke in COVID positive patients. Even COVID patients with hypertension should take proper medication and go for regular walks so that it will lower the risk of cardiac issues and kidney failure,” Dr Madan Mohan, Senior Intervention Cardiologist, MGM Healthcare was quoted as saying.