What is the relationship between high blood pressure and stroke?

In the past 30 years, the prevalence of stroke in my country has increased significantly. Currently, the number of stroke patients in my country ranks first in the world[1]. In addition, the incidence of stroke in my country has shown a significant upward trend, which is exactly the opposite of the downward trend in developed countries[2]. According to the results of the systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) from 1980 to 2016, stroke is the leading cause of life expectancy loss in my country[3]. As the aging of my country's population continues to deepen, problems such as poor control of stroke-related risk factors continue to exist. The disease burden caused by stroke in my country is showing an increasingly severe trend.

The most troublesome risk factor is the familiar one - high blood pressure. So what is its relationship with stroke? In fact, high blood pressure is a progressive cardiovascular syndrome and a high-risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases [4]. The prevalence of hypertension in my country continues to increase, leading to a series of cardiovascular diseases. Stroke caused by the aggravation of hypertension is more severe and has a poorer prognosis.

As a developing country, my country has uneven economic development between the north and south, resulting in a low level of awareness among many residents, especially those in rural areas, that hypertension can cause stroke［5］.

Yang Jun's study "Analysis of the Association between Hypertension and Stroke" published in Shanxi Medical Journal showed that the risk of stroke in hypertensive patients is higher than that in people with normal blood pressure, and the risk of stroke in hypertensive patients who smoke or are obese is even higher. The risk factors for stroke have a lot in common with those for hypertension. In addition, age, smoking, drinking, and being overweight or obese have a certain impact on the severity of hypertension to varying degrees. Among them, drinking and obesity have the greatest impact on the incidence of grade 3 hypertension (the incidence of grade 3 hypertension under the influence of drinking is 23.85%; the incidence of grade 3 hypertension under the influence of obesity is 51.96%) [6].

Wang Yongjun's study "Hypertension and Stroke" published in the Chinese Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases showed that hypertension is the most important risk factor for stroke [7]. Other statistics show that the probability of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients with hypertension is higher than that of other factors. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, it is very important to strictly control blood pressure and blood sugar [8].

The risk of stroke in the middle-aged and elderly population is very high, and even worse, there is a risk of death. The incidence of cerebral hemorrhage in the stroke population is also increasing, and most cases are sudden, so the cure rate is very low. However, many people still have a series of sequelae after stroke treatment. If not treated in time, it may cause language dysfunction such as slurred speech, limb movement disorders such as hemiplegia, and social disorders [9].

Therefore, it is very necessary to prevent the occurrence of stroke as early as possible. As an important factor in causing stroke, hypertension needs to be taken seriously. For people with hypertension, timely controlling blood pressure and quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a good weight, changing unhealthy lifestyles and lowering blood pressure are very effective measures to help people with hypertension prevent stroke [10].

References:

1.Feigin VL, Forouzanfar MH, Krishnamurthi R, et al. Global and regional burden of stroke during 1990–2010: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet, 2014, 383(9913):245-255.

2. Wu SM, Wu B, Liu M, et al. Stroke in China: advances and challenges in epidemiology, prevention, and management. Lancet Neurol, 2019, 18(4): 394-405.

3.GBD 2016 Causes of Death of Collaborators． Global regional, and national age-sex specific mortality for 264 causes of death, 1980-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016［J］． Lancet, 2017, 390 (10100): 1151-1210.

4. Costa SM, Lima CA, Nobre ALCSD, et al. Hypertension bearers with high risk/big risk of cardiovascular diseases and socioeco-nomic and health indicators［J］． Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992), 2018, 64(7): 601-610.

5. Wang Xuelian, Liu Zhuo. Epidemiological survey on the awareness rate of risk factors for ischemic stroke [J]. Medical Information (Mid-monthly), 2011, 24 (9): 4684.

6. Yang Jun, Han Huan, Chu Chao, Ma Qiong, Yan Yu, Liao Yueyuan, Chen Chen, Sun Yue, Yang Ruihai, Pan Shaomei, Li Jianping, Sun Yingxian, Mou Jianjun. Analysis of the association between hypertension and stroke[J]. Shanxi Medical Journal, 2021, 50(12): 1899-1901.

7. Wang Yongjun. Hypertension and stroke［J］. Chinese Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, 2004, 32(6): 574-576.

8. Zhang Jianping. The occurrence and influencing factors of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in people with diabetes and hypertension［J］． Clinical Rational Drug Use, 2020, 13(8): 147-148．

9. Yu Yueting, Hu Pinglang, Zhang Yixu. Current status of social disorders in patients with post-stroke sequelae and analysis of influencing factors [J]. Nursing and Rehabilitation, 2020, 19(12): 5-9.

10. Wang Yongjun. Controlling morning blood pressure is effective in preventing stroke［J］. Chinese Journal of Hypertension, 2014, 22(9): 824-826.