Measure your BP accurately, Control it and Live Longer- World Hypertension Day

May 17 is observed as World Hypertension Day and we would like to spread some basic awareness about it.

1 in 4 adults worldwide have high BP

So what is normal BP and what is considered High BP?

Normal: < 120/80 mm of Hg

Elevated: >120-129/ 80 mm of Hg

Stage 1: >130-139/80-89 mm of Hg

Stage 2: > 140/90 mm of Hg

White Coat Hypertension: High BP at the hospital but normal at home

Masked Hypertension: Normal BP at the hospital but high at home.

What are the causes of High BP?

• Genetic Factors and Family history
• Age
• Access intake of salt
• Smoking tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption
• Obesity
• Sleep Apnea
• Thyroid and another hormone disease/ Adrenal disease
• Kidney disease
• Steroids and other drugs including (NSAIDs)
• Hypertension in Pregnancy

How patient will know that BP is high?

• Mild to moderate BP is mostly asymptomatic
• Most of the patients are diagnosed during routine doctor’s visits or health check-ups

1. Sudden high BP may cause

• Headache
• Confusion
• Fatigue
• Vision problem
• Nausea, vomiting
• Chest discomfort
• Palpitation

2. Sever high BP may cause:

• Brain hemorrhage/ stroke
• Heart failure
• Breathing difficulty
• Retina (Eye) hemorrhage

What are the complications of High BP?

If BP is not treated properly, a long time BP can cause:

• Kidney damage
• Eyes retina damage
• Brain vessels narrowing/ clots/ bleeding- Brain stroke
• Heart vessels narrowing – Heart attack

High BP is a silent killer, every person should get their blood pressure checked, and if it’s high they should go for proper treatment as per the doctor’s advice.

Regular health check-ups and visits to your physician will prevent life-threatening complications of High Blood pressure.

How to monitor your Blood Pressure at Home?

• Check BP when you are relaxed, and at rest comfortably
• 5 to 10 minutes after sitting or in a supine (laying down) position.
• Don’t check immediately after exercise or after taking tea, coffee, smoking, or taking alcohol.
• Use a good BP measuring machine.
• The cuff should cover your arm properly, it should not be too tight or too loose
• BP machine should be placed at your heart level
• Check both arms every time, and keep a record to show your doctor at your next visit

Care you should take when high BP is diagnosed

• Take regular medicines as per the doctor’s advice
• DO NOT MISS YOUR MEDICINE
• Low salt diet: Avoid extra salt added to food
• Avoid pickles, sauces, and food with preservatives, fried food, ready-to-make packets, chatni etc.
• Consume low-fat diet
• Keep control of your diabetes and cholesterol level
• Do the regular exercise as per the doctor’s advice
• Focus on your mental health and reduce stress, regular diet, and take proper sleep
• Avoid tobacco smoking and consuming alcohol
• Get your regular health check-up done to avoid complications

Always remember “Prevention is better than cure”

Proper BP control will prevent you from life-threatening complications and help you avoid damaging your heart, kidney, and brain.

Stay Healthy, Stay Safe.

Dr. Falguni Iyer

MD Medicine, AFIH

Shalby Hospitals – SG