National Hypertension Day | How much do you know about hypertension prevention and treatment? Be the first person responsible for your own blood pressure health

October 8th is the National Hypertension Day established by our country. This year's October 8th is the 23rd National Hypertension Day in our country. The original intention of establishing Hypertension Day is to remind everyone: pay attention to hypertension.

Hypertension is one of the diseases with the highest prevalence in our country. According to the latest "China Cardiovascular Health and Disease Report 2022" released by the National Center for Cardiovascular Disease in June 2023, about 245 million adults in my country suffer from hypertension, and the number of people with high normal values ​​is as high as 435 million. Hypertension in my country still has the "three highs" characteristics of high incidence, high disability rate, and high mortality rate; on the contrary, the awareness rate, treatment rate, and control rate of hypertension in adults over 18 years old in my country are only 51.6%, 45.8%, and 16.8%, respectively. Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease and the main risk factor for stroke, heart disease, and kidney disease. The "three highs" and "three lows" of hypertension remind us to attach great importance to the prevention and treatment of hypertension.

Speaking of high blood pressure, you may think that high blood pressure is diagnosed in the hospital, and of course you need to take medicine and receive treatment in the hospital. However, many people worry that "you need to take medicine for a long time at a young age" and "taking antihypertensive medicine will damage the liver and kidneys", so they intentionally or unintentionally ignore the treatment of high blood pressure. However, they do not know that such neglect of high blood pressure may bring more serious consequences. On this Hypertension Day, we want to tell you that "you have to rely on yourself to prevent and treat high blood pressure".

Preventing high blood pressure depends on yourself

The onset of hypertension is related to two main factors: one is genetic factors. If one of the parents suffers from hypertension, the probability of the child suffering from hypertension increases by 1.5-2 times. If both parents suffer from hypertension, the probability of the child suffering from hypertension increases by 2-3 times. According to the current prevalence of hypertension in adults in our country of 27%, the probability of the child suffering from hypertension is very high if the parents suffer from hypertension. However, the occurrence of hypertension is also related to another factor, that is, environmental factors.

Current studies have shown that the onset of hypertension is related to decompensation of blood pressure regulation mechanisms, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system, sodium retention, impaired endothelial function, insulin resistance and other mechanisms, but it is also affected by many lifestyle factors such as diet, excessive sodium intake, obesity, smoking, drinking, lack of exercise, long-term irregular work and rest, and high mental stress. Therefore, if we actively adjust our lifestyle, we can avoid the activation of the pathogenesis of hypertension to the greatest extent, thereby preventing hypertension. Specifically, we should have a reasonable diet, limit sodium, control weight, ban smoking and limit alcohol, exercise appropriately, ensure adequate sleep, reduce work pressure, maintain an optimistic attitude and a healthy lifestyle, and we can prevent hypertension. Isn't it easy? If you also want to stay away from hypertension, then get moving quickly.

Monitor high blood pressure yourself

Compared with other diseases, hypertension is one of the easiest diseases to diagnose. What we need to measure blood pressure is a sphygmomanometer: if you want to know whether you have high blood pressure, you need to measure your blood pressure; if you want to know whether your blood pressure is well controlled, you still need to measure your blood pressure. Take a look at the sphygmomanometer at home. Is it still an old-fashioned mercury sphygmomanometer? If so, it is recommended that you change it. On the one hand, long-term use of mercury sphygmomanometers may cause aging and leakage, resulting in inaccurate pressure measurement; at the same time, if mercury leaks, it will also cause mercury poisoning and environmental pollution; and if you measure your own blood pressure, while concentrating on listening to your heartbeat, while squeezing the air bag with your hand, it will also affect the blood pressure measurement results.

So how to solve the problem of measuring blood pressure? The simplest way is to use a fully automatic arm-type electronic blood pressure monitor. Before each measurement, rest quietly for a few minutes, sit down, tie the cuff, press "start", and the blood pressure monitor will automatically measure, and the systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and pulse will be clearly visible. If your blood pressure is unstable, or you are a hypertensive patient who is taking antihypertensive drugs, it is recommended that you prepare a record book and write down the measured blood pressure and pulse values ​​on it. In this way, after a period of time, we can review it and clearly guide your blood pressure control situation.

With a simple "tie and press", you can find out whether your blood pressure is high, when it is high, what the pattern is, and how your blood pressure is controlled. Isn't it very convenient? If you are also worried about your blood pressure, then measure it as soon as possible.

Treating high blood pressure on your own

Everyone knows that high blood pressure requires antihypertensive drugs, but most people don’t know what drugs to take, how much to take, and when to take them, so many people go to the hospital to ask the doctor what drugs to take. But did you know that these are actually the questions that the doctor will "ask" you. First, we need to understand your highest blood pressure, your usual blood pressure, determine the classification of hypertension, and at the same time understand your other risk factors, whether there is target organ damage, whether there are other clinical diseases, and determine the risk stratification of hypertension, so that we can tell you whether you need to take it, what medicine to take, and how much to take; then, we also need to understand your blood pressure rhythm, when it is high and when it is low, so that we can tell you when it is best to take it. You see, in fact, you "order" the medicine, and the doctor's plan is inseparable from your blood pressure measurement. Only when you provide accurate blood pressure information can the doctor "help" you develop the best treatment plan.

But most patients still don't want to take antihypertensive drugs. Who can avoid taking antihypertensive drugs? Simply put, people whose blood pressure has recently risen, whose blood pressure has not risen much, and who have relatively few risk factors can first adjust their lifestyle, use Chinese medicine, and some non-drug therapies of traditional Chinese medicine for treatment. Many early hypertensive patients can achieve symptom improvement and effective control of hypertension through Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation and treatment; in addition, persistent practice of Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, etc. can significantly improve blood pressure. my country's hypertension guidelines also recommend that people with risk factors for hypertension, all hypertensive patients, including hypertensive patients treated with drugs, should change their lifestyles. Here is also a set of data for everyone:

The impact of lifestyle on blood pressure

A low-salt diet <6 g/day can reduce blood pressure by 2-8 mmHg

A 5 kg weight loss can reduce blood pressure by 5-20 mmHg

Limiting alcohol consumption to <50 ml/day can reduce blood pressure by 2-4 mmHg

Exercise 18-25 minutes a day can reduce blood pressure by 4-9 mmHg

Are you also tempted by these data? It is better to take action than to be tempted.

Now you know that from preventing high blood pressure to monitoring high blood pressure and then treating high blood pressure, the whole process of high blood pressure actually needs you to do it yourself. Preventing and controlling high blood pressure starts with me.

Author: Li Yan: Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Cardiology, Oriental Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Scientific Advisor: Yan Yan, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine