Feeling well does not mean being healthy. That conclusive warning comes from the Colombian League against Heart Attack and Hypertension just days before World Hypertension Day is observed (next Sunday, May 17). The reflection invites everyone not to feel overly confident, because inside their bodies that “silent killer” may already be doing its work.
The disease receives that terrible nickname because today it affects one in every three people. But that is not all. It was once believed that only older adults suffered from it, and that is no longer the case: it is appearing with increasing frequency among young people.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) states that hypertension is a common condition currently affecting more than 35% of people between 30 and 79 years old in the Americas.
Hypertension presents no symptoms
It is the main risk factor for heart attacks and strokes, which together cause more than 2.2 million deaths every year in the region. It also represents a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease, dementia, and diabetes complications.
Although countries in the Americas continue to make progress in the prevention and control of hypertension, on the eve of World Hypertension Day, PAHO frequently calls for intensifying efforts to address this main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) from the primary healthcare level.
For example, last year at this same time, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO, stated that the “high level of poor health and deaths caused by hypertension is unacceptable because it can be prevented. Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, avoiding harmful alcohol consumption, limiting the intake of ultra-processed products, and exercising, are very beneficial for health.”
The seriousness of the problem lies in the fact that hypertension, in most cases, presents no symptoms, which leads many patients to discover it only after suffering severe events such as a stroke, a heart attack, kidney failure (dialysis), vascular dementia, or erectile dysfunction, among others.
“Many patients consider themselves completely healthy until a severe complication occurs,” stresses Dr. Luis Moya Jimenez, president of the Colombian League against Heart Attack and Hypertension. “Unfortunately, the consequences are often irreversible.”
But why does hypertension occur? Dr. Moya Jimenez explains that the origin of this disease combines genetic factors and unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Having a family history increases the risk, but everyday factors such as excessive salt consumption, sedentary lifestyles, stress, overweight, alcohol and cigarette consumption, and poor sleep quality also play a decisive role.
These factors are often established from childhood, becoming habits that go unnoticed for years.
Checking blood pressure can save lives
One of the main problems is that most people do not know their blood pressure numbers. Added to this is poor adherence to treatment among diagnosed patients, many of whom stop taking medication because they do not present symptoms or because they fear side effects.
As part of its recommendations, the Colombian League against Heart Attack and Hypertension insists on the importance of measuring blood pressure regularly, even at home, using easy-to-operate electronic blood pressure monitors.
In addition, initiatives such as the free mobile application “Healthy Heart” allow users to keep a record of blood pressure and heart rate readings, facilitating medical follow-up and promoting greater awareness of cardiovascular health.
It should be kept in mind that hypertension is a preventable and controllable disease. Identifying risk factors, adopting healthy habits, and maintaining regular checkups can make the difference between a healthy life and irreversible complications.