High Blood Pressure - A Major Health Risk

In the United States , hypertension (high blood pressure) affects about 1 out of 4 adults, and is the major public health problem for the last several years. Because systolic hypertension represents a greater risk in individuals older than 50 years of age, medication to lower systolic blood pressure is a lifelong prescription after this age, for individuals with hypertension.

Elevation of systolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing eye damage, heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. All these conditions are referred to as complications of hypertension which can result in end-organ damage, due to the harm caused by chronic high blood pressure.

However, variations in diastolic blood pressure or a combination of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure can lead to cardiac and renal diseases, brain damage and hardening of the arteries; also know as atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis.

When hypertension remains for long recurrent periods, the chronic condition is controlled by administering medication to lower systolic blood pressure. An early diagnosis of hypertension in an individual is very important to normalize blood pressure before it becomes chronic, hence preventing further complications.

Cardiovascular diseases are the bigger health risk associated to hypertension, and contrary to the popular belief, more women than men have died of heart disease since 1984. In fact, coronary heart disease is considered the number one killer of American women, and the leading cause for 3 out of 5 women to have heart failure each year.

It is estimated that around 500,000 women die each year as a result of coronary heart disease, 16 times higher than any other cause of death, even combined with other illnesses. These deaths could be prevented with early detection of hypertension and treatment including medication to lower systolic blood pressure.

During 1997, 42,565 Americans died as a result of not being treated for high blood pressure. Hypertension was also the contributing factor in over 200,000 deaths in the same year resulting from other diseases. Ironically, high blood pressure is the easiest disease to diagnose and treat.

Although, medication to lower systolic blood pressure is highly effective, 31.6% of people suffering from hypertension ignore their condition, this is the reason why it is considered one of the most preventable causes of death in the United States .

Even after the diagnosis, it is alarming that people may not consider high blood pressure as life-threatening, requiring periodical visits to the doctor and continuous medication, because before leading to death, uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of many other serious health problems while decreasing the quality of the patient's life.

Do not expose yourself to be the next victim of this, so-called "Silent Killer", and visit your doctor for a check-up, because you may have had high blood pressure for years without actually knowing it.