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Hypertension is on the Rise, and Almost Nobody Knows
01
Hypertension is on the
Rise, and Almost Nobody Knows 04 Understanding 07 Migraines: The Myths
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T O P D O C T O R M A G A Z I N E
Hypertension is on the Rise, and Almost Nobody Knows
By Louisa Emhof
One of the first things you do when you get to the doctor’s office is get your blood pressure taken. Of course, it’s just part and parcel of the experience, but for a good reason. Rates of hypertension have been on the rise for decades, and it’s time we start paying attention to this “silent killer. ” Learning about how common hypertension is, how to avoid it, and how to treat it is a great way to start taking care of yourself today.
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is causing problems for millions of people worldwide. These numbers have increased rapidly over the last few decades, even though awareness and diagnosis have remained low. The 2020 projections show that within 20 years, there will be about 1.5 billion hypertension cases worldwide. This is one of the many reasons why focusing on treatment and prevention now is essential.
Striking Rise of Hypertension Across the World
Although about 108 million Americans have hypertension or are treating it with medication, the U.S. is not the only place with widespread hypertension. All across the world, rates of high blood pressure have consistently risen. There are estimates of over 1 billion cases throughout the world today. The increased rates are significantly higher for low and middle income countries, which make up around 1 billion of the worldwide cases of hypertension.
Although it causes some terrible complications, hypertension is still largely ignored and discounted. It has become known as the “silent killer” in the medical world because of how often it causes death while the person doesn’t know he or she has it. The “silent killer” name stems from the symptoms, which are either hard to identify or nonexistent.
High blood pressure is currently the leading cause of heart disease and premature death worldwide. About half of all people with hypertension are unaware of their condition, even with increasing hypertension rates and higher prevalence of deaths worldwide.
As rates continue to rise, it is essential to know what causes hypertension so you can focus on a lifestyle that will prevent it. Hypertension, although potentially deadly, is relatively easy to treat once identified. So fear not; with the proper awareness and treatment, you can easily control this killer condition.
Causes of Hypertension
Blood pressure is a crucial function of the human body. It is measured by the amount of force your blood exerts on the artery walls while your heart pumps blood throughout your body. The condition of high blood pressure happens when something goes wrong in your body, like a constricted or narrowed artery, making it harder for your heart to pump blood. This complication puts excessive pressure on the walls of your blood vessels. The pressure can cause significant damage to your body and lead to complications like vision loss, heart failure, stroke, and kidney disease, among other health problems. Now that we know what hypertension is, let’s look at the causes.
Hypertension can be caused by lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking, and not getting regular exercise. Other health conditions like diabetes and obesity can also increase your risk of high blood pressure. A higher risk of hypertension even sometimes accompanies pregnancies. Studies link diets high in salt and simple sugars to an increased risk of high blood pressure. Obesity is also a leading cause of hypertension because of constricted and stiffened arteries. Lastly, smoking is one of the biggest culprits in causing hypertension.
Although hypertension and its causes sound scary, most of the causes are avoidable, which makes preventing high blood pressure easier!
Preventing and Treating Hypertension
Lifestyle changes combined with first-line antihypertensive medications are the best way to treat hypertension. Thankfully, medications for this condition are relatively cheap throughout the world. However, the main problem the medical world faces while trying to treat hypertension is the lack of awareness in patients. If people don’t know they have hypertension, they can’t be adequately treated. This unawareness and the fact that symptoms can sometimes be invisible means prevention is incredibly important.
Exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking are all great ways to keep your health intact. Getting regular check-ups with your doctor and making sure you are being monitored for healthy blood pressure is another way to keep yourself healthy.
Our Top Doctor Magazine team hopes that you take this newfound knowledge of the prevalence and dangers of hypertension and use it to check in with yourself and your loved ones. Remember: prevention may be the key to staying happy and healthy. Check in with your doctor and get tested for hypertension if you have any concerns. Getting regular exercise and eating right are also great ways to take control of your health today!
Understanding inesMigrai
ith migraines affecting over 100 million people worldwide, it’s almost certain that either you or someone you love struggles with the condition. Out of 148 million impacted individuals, 37 million are in the United States alone. Unfortunately, figuring out the myths and realities of migraines can be a headache on its own. If you are a member of this group, it’s essential to understand the truth about this medical issue and its consequences.
The M Myths
WBy Nathan Pipkin
What Causes Migraines?
While both men and women experience migraines, women are more likely to experience them. Migraines are twice as common in women as they are in men. Whatever your gender, the experience of migraines can be a serious distraction from your work or social life. Symptoms of a migraine attack often include throbbing pain in one or both sides of the head, a strong sensitivity to light, as well as nausea and vomiting. So, what causes them? Not caffeine! That is the first myth about migraines that we should do away with. While an unusual amount of caffeine can trigger a migraine episode, caffeine alone is not enough. Another misconception is that headache medicine will cure migraines. This isn’t the best way to think about it, as migraines cannot be “cured. ” Instead, it’s better to use phrases like “prevent migraines” and “control symptoms. ”
Medicines can help us accomplish these goals, but any product claiming to cure migraines forever is probably a hoax.
Realistically, your family history and age will play a more significant role than caffeine. Specifically, around 80% of people who experience migraines have a close relative with the same condition. For example, if only one of two parents has experienced migraines, there is a 50% chance that their child will have them as well. Other influential factors besides family history include stress, changes in sleep, some food additives, and hormonal changes in women.
Another myth is that migraines can cause brain damage. While the pain of a migraine episode might make this scary idea seem plausible, there is no evidence that brain damage will result from migraines. And while there is a risk of stroke associated with migraines, that risk is extremely small - only 1 or 2 out of 100,000 people will experience this.
Fortunately, just because your family has passed migraines down to you doesn't mean you have to suffer forever. There are steps you can take to manage the symptoms of migraines, and we’re going to discuss those in the next few paragraphs.
Medication is one approach to treating migraines, but we should understand that there are two different categories of migraine medication. The abortive category should be taken at the first signs of an oncoming migraine, and these medications should decrease your symptoms. The other category of medication is designed to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches for people with more than four migraines per month. Another myth we can dismiss is that pregnant women cannot take migraine medication. While some medications designed for migraines are not safe for pregnant women, others are safe and will help ease the discomfort.
Since migraines often make you sensitive to things like harsh light or loud sounds, finding a private environment with soft lighting should go a long way in helping you tolerate the discomfort. Temperature therapy, such as ice packs or washcloths rinsed in warm water, can have a helpful numbing or relaxing effect. These are some of the best strategies for managing or reducing your discomfort during an episode.
But is there anything you can do to prevent migraines? Yes! You can organize three huge areas of your lifestyle to reduce the chance of experiencing migraines. The first is sleep. Establishing regular sleep hours, going through a relaxing routine at the end of the day, and eliminating distractions in your bedroom will all help you get a better, more consistent night’s sleep.
In addition to sleep, your diet and exercise habits can also play a role in fighting off migraines. The chemicals that your brain releases during exercise often alleviate anxiety and depression, which can predict migraine episodes. Cardio activities like walking, running, or biking are especially helpful!
The most important eating habit to maintain to avoid migraines is consistent mealtimes. Missing a meal entirely is one of the most common migraine triggers for people who already have the condition. Eat regularly and choose foods other than cheese, chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol (which can sometimes trigger migraines) to give yourself the upper hand.
A Final Word
No matter what strategy you use, you’re not alone in the fight against migraines. While this genetically inherited condition cannot be cured forever, knowing how migraines affect you and exposing myths about them is a great way to reduce your discomfort and stay engaged with your life. Stay tuned for more!
