Medical center Florence

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Arterial hypertension

What with the frequency of patients is hypertension?

The overall incidence of hypertension in adults is about 30-45%. With the aging of the population, leading a more sedentary lifestyle and increasing body weight, the incidence of hypertension is rising worldwide. Complications such as ischaemic heart disease, haemorrhagic stroke and ischaemic stroke account for the majority of mortality and disability. Unfortunately, hypertension is often combined with other cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia and impaired glucose tolerance.

How do I know that I am hypertensive?

Hypertension is a predominantly asymptomatic condition that is best detected through organized population screening programs. There are two variants of arterial hypertension diagnosis: by office blood pressure monitoring, that is, when repeated measurements are made in the doctor’s office, and by home monitoring. Home blood pressure is the average of all measurements taken with a blood pressure machine over a minimum of 3 days, and preferably 7 consecutive days, with measurements taken in the morning and evening in a quiet room after a 5 minute rest, in the patient’s sitting position.

When to see a cardiologist?

The purpose of the clinical assessment by a cardiologist is to establish the diagnosis and extent of hypertension, screen for potential secondary causes of hypertension, identify factors potentially contributing to the development of hypertension (lifestyle, comorbidities or family history), identify comorbidities and establish whether there is evidence of organ damage.

Which organs are damaged in hypertension?

Chronically increased left ventricular filling in hypertensive patients can lead to left ventricular hypertrophy, increased risk of arrhythmias, and increased risk of heart failure. Hypertension is the second most important cause of chronic kidney disease after diabetes mellitus. Its presence also increases the incidence of brain damage, the most dramatic manifestations of which are transient ischemic attack and stroke.

How is it treated?

There are two well-established strategies for lowering blood pressure: lifestyle changes and drug treatment. The recommended target blood pressure value is <140/90 mmHg.

A healthy lifestyle can prevent or delay the onset of hypertension and reduce cardiovascular risk. Effective lifestyle changes may be sufficient to prevent the need for drug therapy in patients with stage I hypertension.

The recommended lifestyle measures that have been shown to lower BP are: salt restriction, consumption of vegetables and fruits, maintaining an ideal body weight, and regular physical activity. People with hypertension who consume alcohol are advised to limit their consumption.

Studies have shown that regular aerobic physical activity can be beneficial, both for the prevention and treatment of hypertension and for the reduction of cardiovascular risk and mortality.

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