"Hypertension should be defined in terms of blood pressure levels above which investigation and treatment can do more good than harm"(Evan and rose1971). We should be very much cautious regarding our blood pressure. High bp kills 9.4 million people everywhere globally. So we have to identify this culprit behind a huge number of premature death and put him behind the bar by means of lifestyle modification and medicines.
Management of hypertension should not only be started after diagnosis of hypertension, it should be started before the emergence of the disease, people with high-risk factors like unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, excess alcoholic stress should be screened regularly. Even before exposure to risk factors lifestyle management should be initiated. Importance of yoga, brisk walking physical exercise should be taught to the society and make it as habits.
As per the guideline (JNC):
- Normal blood pressure must be less than equal to 120/80 mm Hg
- Prehypertension means 120-139 mm Hg SBP and 80-89mm Hg DBP
- Stage 1 hypertension is SBP 140-159 mm Hg and 90-99 mm Hg DBP
- Stage 2 hypertension means 160 mm Hg or more SBP and or 100 mm Hg or more
Why should we treat hypertension?
In clinical trials, antihypertensive therapy has been associated with reductions in:
1. Stroke incidents by 35-40%
2. Myocardial infarction (heart attack) by 20-25%
3. Heart failure by 50%
So my friends, brothers and sisters please be sincere to your blood pressure monitoring, who are taking medicines, please take it regularly, don't skip them. Who, are not taking medicines even after your doctor's prescription due to fear of side effects. My sincere request please think of the effect of hypertension on your life and leave your doctor to think about side effects of the drugs.
Wish you all a happy life. God bless you.