Health and Me

Ishita Roy

World Hypertension Day: The Toll of Anxiety and Social Media That Is Making More Young People Face High Blood Pressure

World Hypertension Day 2025

<span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/hypertension">Hypertension</a></span>, or <span>high blood pressure</span>, is a condition where the force of blood against artery walls is consistently too high. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's often called the “silent killer” because it typically has no warning signs but can lead to serious heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure over time. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as a major global health issue, with over 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 estimated to have hypertension, most of them unaware of their condition.

<h4>Hypertension &amp; the Young: A Growing Concern</h4>

While traditionally seen as an older person’s problem, hypertension is now being diagnosed in younger individuals—often silently progressing due to unmanaged mental health issues. According to Ms. Aanchal Choudhary Ahuja, Clinical Psychologist (RCI Recognised), Lissun, one of the major drivers behind this shift is the unique emotional and digital stress young adults face today.

“Social media is tricky,” says Ms. Ahuja. “On one hand, it connects us. On the other, it constantly bombards us with things to compare ourselves to—perfect bodies, perfect lives, perfect careers. That kind of pressure builds quietly.”

<h4>The Link Between Hypertension and Mental Health</h4>

Hypertension and depression are closely interconnected. Biologically, chronic stress and depression activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which raises cortisol levels—a stress hormone that, when elevated for long periods, can cause high blood pressure. Psychologically, depression can lead to a lack of self-care, poor diet, and disrupted sleep—all of which are risk factors for hypertension.

“I’ve seen patients come in with symptoms of anxiety and low mood, only to find out they’re also dealing with elevated blood pressure,” Ms. Ahuja explains. “It becomes a vicious cycle, where one condition fuels the other.”

<h4>Social Media and the Stress Spiral</h4>

Constant scrolling, especially late at night, leads to poor sleep and a sense of falling behind. “You open LinkedIn and suddenly feel like you're not doing enough,” says Ms. Ahuja. “It’s a subtle, constant comparison we don’t even realize we’re making.” Over time, this quiet stress impacts both mental health and cardiovascular health.

One of her clients, a 24-year-old tech employee, came in for therapy due to insomnia and anxiety. She was later found to have early-stage hypertension. “Her daily stress included back-to-back meetings, no breaks, and social media-induced sleep deprivation,” Ahuja recalls.

In young adults, the early symptoms of co-existing hypertension and mental health strain can be subtle. These may include:

<ul><li>Persistent fatigue</li><li>Difficulty concentrating or brain fog</li><li>Headaches or chest tightness</li><li>Mood swings or emotional numbness</li><li>Loss of interest in hobbies and relationships</li></ul>

“These are the body’s early warning signs,” Ms. Ahuja stresses. “Often, they’re easy to dismiss, but they’re the mind and heart asking for help.”

<h4>Long-Term Effects of Digital Overload</h4>

Poor sleep, endless comparison, and doom-scrolling quietly alter your baseline stress levels. “These habits, over months or years, change your body. You may feel 'used to it,' but your heart isn’t,” says Ahuja. Chronic stress can eventually lead to hypertension, digestive issues, weakened immunity, and emotional burnout.

Preventive Steps: From Screen Breaks to Therapy

According to Ms. Ahuja, prevention starts with awareness. “Mental health check-ins should be routine, just like blood tests. Even if nothing feels ‘wrong’, it helps catch the buildup of stress early.” She also advocates for regular digital detoxes. “Our brains weren’t designed for constant content. Taking breaks—even just keeping your phone away during meals—can reduce cortisol levels and help reset your nervous system.”

“Don’t wait until it gets bad,” she says. “Waiting for a breakdown to act is like waiting for your car engine to explode before checking the oil.” Her practical suggestions:

<ul><li>Limit screen time, especially before bed</li><li>Build boundaries between work and rest</li><li>Talk to someone—friend, mentor, or therapist</li><li>Don’t dismiss your feelings just because they don’t seem ‘serious enough’</li></ul>

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hypertension day 2025

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high blood pressure

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Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition where the force of blood against artery walls is consistently too high. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's often called the “silent killer” because it typically has no warning signs but can lead to serious heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure over time. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as a major global health issue, with over 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 estimated to have hypertension, most of them unaware of their condition.Hypertension & the Young: A Growing ConcernWhile traditionally seen as an older person’s problem, hypertension is now being diagnosed in younger individuals—often silently progressing due to unmanaged mental health issues. According to Ms. Aanchal Choudhary Ahuja, Clinical Psychologist (RCI Recognised), Lissun, one of the major drivers behind this shift is the unique emotional and digital stress young adults face today.“Social media is tricky,” says Ms. Ahuja. “On one hand, it connects us. On the other, it constantly bombards us with things to compare ourselves to—perfect bodies, perfect lives, perfect careers. That kind of pressure builds quietly.”The Link Between Hypertension and Mental HealthHypertension and depression are closely interconnected. Biologically, chronic stress and depression activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which raises cortisol levels—a stress hormone that, when elevated for long periods, can cause high blood pressure. Psychologically, depression can lead to a lack of self-care, poor diet, and disrupted sleep—all of which are risk factors for hypertension.“I’ve seen patients come in with symptoms of anxiety and low mood, only to find out they’re also dealing with elevated blood pressure,” Ms. Ahuja explains. “It becomes a vicious cycle, where one condition fuels the other.”Social Media and the Stress SpiralConstant scrolling, especially late at night, leads to poor sleep and a sense of falling behind. “You open LinkedIn and suddenly feel like you're not doing enough,” says Ms. Ahuja. “It’s a subtle, constant comparison we don’t even realize we’re making.” Over time, this quiet stress impacts both mental health and cardiovascular health.One of her clients, a 24-year-old tech employee, came in for therapy due to insomnia and anxiety. She was later found to have early-stage hypertension. “Her daily stress included back-to-back meetings, no breaks, and social media-induced sleep deprivation,” Ahuja recalls.Signs You Shouldn't IgnoreIn young adults, the early symptoms of co-existing hypertension and mental health strain can be subtle. These may include:Persistent fatigueDifficulty concentrating or brain fogHeadaches or chest tightnessMood swings or emotional numbnessLoss of interest in hobbies and relationships“These are the body’s early warning signs,” Ms. Ahuja stresses. “Often, they’re easy to dismiss, but they’re the mind and heart asking for help.”Long-Term Effects of Digital OverloadPoor sleep, endless comparison, and doom-scrolling quietly alter your baseline stress levels. “These habits, over months or years, change your body. You may feel 'used to it,' but your heart isn’t,” says Ahuja. Chronic stress can eventually lead to hypertension, digestive issues, weakened immunity, and emotional burnout.Preventive Steps: From Screen Breaks to TherapyAccording to Ms. Ahuja, prevention starts with awareness. “Mental health check-ins should be routine, just like blood tests. Even if nothing feels ‘wrong’, it helps catch the buildup of stress early.” She also advocates for regular digital detoxes. “Our brains weren’t designed for constant content. Taking breaks—even just keeping your phone away during meals—can reduce cortisol levels and help reset your nervous system.”Her Advice to the Overwhelmed“Don’t wait until it gets bad,” she says. “Waiting for a breakdown to act is like waiting for your car engine to explode before checking the oil.” Her practical suggestions:Limit screen time, especially before bedBuild boundaries between work and restTalk to someone—friend, mentor, or therapistDon’t dismiss your feelings just because they don’t seem ‘serious enough’

world hypertension day: the toll of anxiety and social media that is making more young people face high blood pressure

Aarushi Bhadury

(Credit-Canva)

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The search for ways to extend one’s biological life in one way or the other has become a popular notion. While we may not have found how to extend one’s biological years, increasing the average age of survival is a goal many people and countries are trying to achieve. Many studies have pointed out things that increase the biological age of our organs, making them older than our chronological age, however, what are the things that can influence our biological age positively? 

A new study suggests that what women choose to eat when they are middle-aged really matters for how healthy they will be when they get older. Specifically, eating more foods with lots of fiber and good types of carbohydrates during midlife seems to make women much more likely to be both mentally sharp and physically fit in their later years, which is great news for <span>long-term well-being</span>. 

<h2><span rel="noindex">Diet's Influence on Later Life Quality</span> </h2>

While we already know a lot about how our diet can impact how long we live and whether we get serious diseases, this recent research takes a closer look at how our food choices impact the overall quality of life we experience as we grow older. The study wanted to understand how the foods we eat influence our overall quality of life as we age – things like being able to think clearly, move easily, and feel good mentally, not just avoiding illness. This gives us a more complete picture of how food shapes our aging process. 

Researchers at Tufts University looked at information from a very large group of 47,512 women who were part of the long-running Nurses’ Health Study. This study has been going on for many years and is highly respected for its work in figuring out what causes long-term diseases in women. The researchers analyzed the women's eating habits over several decades, paying close attention to what they were eating during their middle ages. 

<h2>What You Eat In Your Midlife Can Affect You Long Term </h2>

The researchers specifically concentrated on the dietary information gathered in 1984 and 1986, a period when the women in the study were in their middle age. This focused on the types of carbohydrates the women were eating. They found that the best kinds were whole grains (like brown rice and whole-wheat bread), whole fruits and vegetables, and legumes (like lentils and beans). These are considered high-quality because they have lots of fiber and starches that take longer for our bodies to break down, which is better for our blood sugar and helps us feel full. Low-quality carbs were things like white bread and sugary drinks. 

<h2>What Is <span rel="noindex">Healthy Aging Other Than Eating Healthy</span>? </h2>

The researchers had a specific way of defining what "healthy aging" looked like. For the women in the study, it meant living to at least 70 years old without having any of 11 major long-term diseases, plus having good memory and physical abilities, and also being in good mental health. This definition shows that healthy aging is about more than just not being sick; it's also about being able to enjoy life and function well in both mind and body as we get older. 

The results of the study were quite interesting. They found that women who regularly ate more of those high-quality carbohydrates during their middle years had a significantly higher chance – about 31% higher – of aging in a healthy way. On the flip side, women whose diets were heavy in low-quality carbohydrates had a lower chance of healthy aging. This really highlights how the choices we make about carbohydrates in our middle age can have a big impact on our health and well-being in our later years.

Carbs Could Be The Key To Healthy Aging

healthy aging in women

Diet's Influence on Later Life Quality

your midlife meals could affect you long term

Healthy Aging Other Than Eating Healthy

long-term well-being

The search for ways to extend one’s biological life in one way or the other has become a popular notion. While we may not have found how to extend one’s biological years, increasing the average age of survival is a goal many people and countries are trying to achieve. Many studies have pointed out things that increase the biological age of our organs, making them older than our chronological age, however, what are the things that can influence our biological age positively? A new study suggests that what women choose to eat when they are middle-aged really matters for how healthy they will be when they get older. Specifically, eating more foods with lots of fiber and good types of carbohydrates during midlife seems to make women much more likely to be both mentally sharp and physically fit in their later years, which is great news for long-term well-being. Diet's Influence on Later Life Quality While we already know a lot about how our diet can impact how long we live and whether we get serious diseases, this recent research takes a closer look at how our food choices impact the overall quality of life we experience as we grow older. The study wanted to understand how the foods we eat influence our overall quality of life as we age – things like being able to think clearly, move easily, and feel good mentally, not just avoiding illness. This gives us a more complete picture of how food shapes our aging process. Researchers at Tufts University looked at information from a very large group of 47,512 women who were part of the long-running Nurses’ Health Study. This study has been going on for many years and is highly respected for its work in figuring out what causes long-term diseases in women. The researchers analyzed the women's eating habits over several decades, paying close attention to what they were eating during their middle ages. What You Eat In Your Midlife Can Affect You Long Term The researchers specifically concentrated on the dietary information gathered in 1984 and 1986, a period when the women in the study were in their middle age. This focused on the types of carbohydrates the women were eating. They found that the best kinds were whole grains (like brown rice and whole-wheat bread), whole fruits and vegetables, and legumes (like lentils and beans). These are considered high-quality because they have lots of fiber and starches that take longer for our bodies to break down, which is better for our blood sugar and helps us feel full. Low-quality carbs were things like white bread and sugary drinks. What Is Healthy Aging Other Than Eating Healthy? The researchers had a specific way of defining what "healthy aging" looked like. For the women in the study, it meant living to at least 70 years old without having any of 11 major long-term diseases, plus having good memory and physical abilities, and also being in good mental health. This definition shows that healthy aging is about more than just not being sick; it's also about being able to enjoy life and function well in both mind and body as we get older. The results of the study were quite interesting. They found that women who regularly ate more of those high-quality carbohydrates during their middle years had a significantly higher chance – about 31% higher – of aging in a healthy way. On the flip side, women whose diets were heavy in low-quality carbohydrates had a lower chance of healthy aging. This really highlights how the choices we make about carbohydrates in our middle age can have a big impact on our health and well-being in our later years.

carbs could be the key to healthy aging in women: study

Smartphone Data Can Predict Recovery After Leg or Hip Fracture

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At this stage of technological advancement, most people carry their smartphones around with them all the time. Many of us use it for our daily needs like phone calls, placing orders and keeping track of our activity levels. However, what you may not have known, is that this daily activity tracking could be the key to proper recovery if you ever run into an accident. 

A new study has found that the information your smartphone collects about your daily movement can tell doctors a lot about how quickly and well you'll get back on your feet after breaking a leg or a hip. It's like your phone holds clues to your body's natural ability to heal and get moving again, even before the injury happens. This could be a really helpful tool for doctors and patients. 

<h2>Pre-Injury Mobility Could Be Key To Recovery Success </h2>

The study's findings, published in the Journal of Bone &amp; Joint Surgery, researchers discovered that the data from smartphones, like how many steps a person took each day, how fast they walked, how long their steps were, and their walking style (gait), all give a clear picture of how well they are likely to recover after their bone break. It turns out that your body's usual way of moving before the injury is a strong indicator of how your recovery will go and how well you'll regain your physical abilities later on. 

<h2>How It Revolutionizes Orthopedic Care with Personalized Insights </h2>

Researchers believe that using smartphone data in this way has the potential to really change how doctors provide care for broken bones. It can help doctors give patients a better idea of what to expect during recovery, spot any problems earlier, and create recovery plans that are specifically tailored to each person based on their own movement history. This means a more personalized and effective healing process. 

To do this study, the researchers asked 107 adults who had already had surgery for a broken hip or leg at least six months earlier to share the data collected by their Apple iPhones. This information included things like their daily step count, their usual walking speed, how long their steps were, and the way they typically walked. By looking at this past movement data, the researchers could see patterns related to their recovery. 

The study's results clearly showed that there's a strong link between a person's activity levels before they broke their leg or hip and how active they were during their recovery. For example, people who regularly took more steps each day before their injury also tended to take more steps as they were healing and getting back to their normal routines. This shows how important baseline fitness is for your body in general as well as in case of recovery. 

<h2>Doctors Can Now Use Phone Data for Treatment </h2>

The study concluded that one’s doctors and physicians could use this information about how people moved before their injury, gathered from their smartphones, to create much more precise plans for surgery, give better advice about recovery, and set more realistic goals for physical therapy. This way, the treatment and recovery process can be designed specifically for each individual, potentially leading to better and faster healing and a return to normal activities.

Smartphone Data can help you recover

Smartphone Data Can Predict Recovery

Pre-Injury Mobility data can help recovery

smartphones and health

how doctors use smartphones for health

smartphones and medical used

At this stage of technological advancement, most people carry their smartphones around with them all the time. Many of us use it for our daily needs like phone calls, placing orders and keeping track of our activity levels. However, what you may not have known, is that this daily activity tracking could be the key to proper recovery if you ever run into an accident. A new study has found that the information your smartphone collects about your daily movement can tell doctors a lot about how quickly and well you'll get back on your feet after breaking a leg or a hip. It's like your phone holds clues to your body's natural ability to heal and get moving again, even before the injury happens. This could be a really helpful tool for doctors and patients. Pre-Injury Mobility Could Be Key To Recovery Success The study's findings, published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, researchers discovered that the data from smartphones, like how many steps a person took each day, how fast they walked, how long their steps were, and their walking style (gait), all give a clear picture of how well they are likely to recover after their bone break. It turns out that your body's usual way of moving before the injury is a strong indicator of how your recovery will go and how well you'll regain your physical abilities later on. How It Revolutionizes Orthopedic Care with Personalized Insights Researchers believe that using smartphone data in this way has the potential to really change how doctors provide care for broken bones. It can help doctors give patients a better idea of what to expect during recovery, spot any problems earlier, and create recovery plans that are specifically tailored to each person based on their own movement history. This means a more personalized and effective healing process. How Did The Study Find This? To do this study, the researchers asked 107 adults who had already had surgery for a broken hip or leg at least six months earlier to share the data collected by their Apple iPhones. This information included things like their daily step count, their usual walking speed, how long their steps were, and the way they typically walked. By looking at this past movement data, the researchers could see patterns related to their recovery. The study's results clearly showed that there's a strong link between a person's activity levels before they broke their leg or hip and how active they were during their recovery. For example, people who regularly took more steps each day before their injury also tended to take more steps as they were healing and getting back to their normal routines. This shows how important baseline fitness is for your body in general as well as in case of recovery. Doctors Can Now Use Phone Data for Treatment The study concluded that one’s doctors and physicians could use this information about how people moved before their injury, gathered from their smartphones, to create much more precise plans for surgery, give better advice about recovery, and set more realistic goals for physical therapy. This way, the treatment and recovery process can be designed specifically for each individual, potentially leading to better and faster healing and a return to normal activities.

smartphone data can predict recovery after leg or hip fracture

Tanya Dutt

World Hypertension Day: Why Hypertension Leads To Serious Health Problems?

World Hypertension Day 2025: Significance, Theme, And Origin

world hypertension day 2025: significance, theme, and origin

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military veteran mom was told her symptoms were 'nothing' until diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder affecting just 1 in 100,000

World Hypertension Day is celebrated observed to draw attention and raise awareness about high blood pressure commonly referred to as hypertension and its risk. This worldwide campaign for healthy living emphasizes the risks of uncontrolled blood pressure, reminds people to check their blood pressure regularly, and encourages healthy living to stop or control the condition. High blood pressure is a leading reason for heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, but if identified early and treated appropriately, it can save lives.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is among the most common chronic diseases worldwide—though it is still perilously underdiagnosed and undertreated. Even with decades of public health campaign and increasing medical awareness, the worldwide burden of this silent killer marches relentlessly upward. Frequently symptom-free, hypertension is a time bomb waiting to explode, when left untreated, causing life-threatening complications affecting the heart, brain, kidneys, eyes, and even sexual function.

Knowing why hypertension is so dangerous begins with comprehending its elaborate, systemic effect on the body. Let's go in-depth about how this disease operates, why it's so frequently neglected, and why it's an instigator of numerous chronic diseases.

Hypertension happens when the pressure in your blood vessels is consistently higher than normal—usually 140/90 mmHg or more, states the World Health Organization (WHO). The normal and healthy level is estimated to be 120/80 mmHg. Blood pressure increases when the arteries get narrow or stiff, causing the heart to work harder.

This repeated overworking can progressively result in permanent damage to essential organs. Though risky, hypertension hardly ever has obvious signs, and therefore regular screening is important.

At a global level, estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30 to 79 years have hypertension, and most of them live in low- and middle-income nations. Alarmingly, 46% of them do not even know they have it, and just 1 in 5 keeps it under control, as per WHO statistics.

In the US alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 47% of adults, or roughly 116 million individuals, have hypertension, yet only 24% control it well. The economic burden is just as overwhelming, with the US spending $131 billion each year on care related to hypertension.

<h2>Why Is Hypertension So Dangerous?</h2>

Hypertension is commonly referred to as the "silent killer" due to its lack of noticeable symptoms. Unchecked, it progressively damages your arteries and vital organs. This is how it progressively dismantles the body:

Your heart is one of the first organs to be affected by sustained high blood pressure. Chronic high blood pressure over time leads to:

<ul><li>Coronary artery disease, in which stiffened arteries constrict blood flow to the heart, causing chest pain (angina), arrhythmias, or heart attacks.</li><li>Heart failure, as the heart muscle stiffens or weakens and cannot pump blood efficiently.</li><li>Left ventricular hypertrophy, in which the left chamber stiffens and hypertrophies creating a risk of sudden cardiac death.</li><li>The heart has to work harder against the higher resistance, subjecting it to constant strain usually with lethal results.</li></ul>

A healthy brain depends on regular blood supply. Hypertension disrupts this in frightening ways:

<ul><li>Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or mini-strokes indicate blocked blood flow as a result of damaged arteries or clots.</li><li>Stroke, a major killer and cause of disability, happens when brain blood supply is cut off.</li><li>Vascular dementia, due to chronic impaired blood flow, affects memory and mental function.</li><li>Even a minor increase in blood pressure can multiply the risk of stroke manifold, highlighting the need for timely intervention.</li></ul>

Kidneys are the body's built-in filtration system, but their operation is greatly dependent on normal blood vessels. Long-standing hypertension may cause:

<ul><li>Kidney scarring and impaired filtration.</li><li>Kidney failure with the need for dialysis or transplant.</li><li>Aggravated damage when paired with diabetes.</li></ul>

Hypertension is among the top causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) world-wide, and its control is crucial to maintaining kidney function.

<h2>Vision Loss and Eye Complications</h2>

Elevated blood pressure can seriously impact the eyes by harming the tiny blood vessels in the retina:

<ul><li>Hypertensive retinopathy, which can lead to bleeding, blurred vision, or blindness.</li><li>Choroidopathy, where fluid accumulates and distorts vision.</li><li>Optic neuropathy, where the optic nerve becomes damaged and vision is permanently impaired.</li><li>Regular eye examinations are especially important for the hypertensive to detect such changes early.</li></ul>

Sexual health is not spared by hypertension either:

<ul><li>Male erectile dysfunction (ED) due to limited blood flow to the penis.</li><li>Reduced libido and arousal in women, commonly involving vaginal dryness or anorgasmia.</li></ul>

Such complications are under-discussed but have a strong impact on quality of life as well as relationship satisfaction.

A new study in Sweden, headed by Dr. Jonas Wuopio of the Karolinska Institutet, has discovered a direct correlation between salt consumption and the development of arterial plaque regardless of blood pressure levels. The linear correlation demonstrates that the higher the salt consumption, the greater the atherosclerosis, which implies that salt can start to damage arteries well before hypertension fully develops.

This finding underscores why dietary modification—such as reducing salt—need not await a diagnosis.

<h2>Hypertension Prevention and Management Tips</h2>

Hypertension is also mostly preventable and manageable via lifestyle modifications, such as:

<ul><li>Eating a balanced, low-sodium diet</li><li>Regular exercise</li><li>Healthy weight maintenance</li><li>Decreasing alcohol consumption and smoking cessation</li><li>Monitoring of blood pressure regularly</li></ul>

Pharmacological agents are also readily available and effective if prescribed and consistently followed.

Hypertension is not a figure, it's a complex, serious medical condition with far-reaching effects on your entire body. From heart attack and stroke to vision impairment and kidney disease, the consequences are dire and numerous but with heightened awareness, lifestyle modification, and medication, it's completely controllable.

world hypertension day 2025

high blood pressure awareness

hypertension prevention tips

hypertension symptoms

heart health

global hypertension statistics

blood pressure control

World Hypertension Day is celebrated observed to draw attention and raise awareness about high blood pressure commonly referred to as hypertension and its risk. This worldwide campaign for healthy living emphasizes the risks of uncontrolled blood pressure, reminds people to check their blood pressure regularly, and encourages healthy living to stop or control the condition. High blood pressure is a leading reason for heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, but if identified early and treated appropriately, it can save lives.Hypertension or high blood pressure is among the most common chronic diseases worldwide—though it is still perilously underdiagnosed and undertreated. Even with decades of public health campaign and increasing medical awareness, the worldwide burden of this silent killer marches relentlessly upward. Frequently symptom-free, hypertension is a time bomb waiting to explode, when left untreated, causing life-threatening complications affecting the heart, brain, kidneys, eyes, and even sexual function.Knowing why hypertension is so dangerous begins with comprehending its elaborate, systemic effect on the body. Let's go in-depth about how this disease operates, why it's so frequently neglected, and why it's an instigator of numerous chronic diseases.What Is Hypertension?Hypertension happens when the pressure in your blood vessels is consistently higher than normal—usually 140/90 mmHg or more, states the World Health Organization (WHO). The normal and healthy level is estimated to be 120/80 mmHg. Blood pressure increases when the arteries get narrow or stiff, causing the heart to work harder.This repeated overworking can progressively result in permanent damage to essential organs. Though risky, hypertension hardly ever has obvious signs, and therefore regular screening is important.At a global level, estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30 to 79 years have hypertension, and most of them live in low- and middle-income nations. Alarmingly, 46% of them do not even know they have it, and just 1 in 5 keeps it under control, as per WHO statistics.In the US alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 47% of adults, or roughly 116 million individuals, have hypertension, yet only 24% control it well. The economic burden is just as overwhelming, with the US spending $131 billion each year on care related to hypertension.Why Is Hypertension So Dangerous?Hypertension is commonly referred to as the "silent killer" due to its lack of noticeable symptoms. Unchecked, it progressively damages your arteries and vital organs. This is how it progressively dismantles the body:Cardiovascular DamageYour heart is one of the first organs to be affected by sustained high blood pressure. Chronic high blood pressure over time leads to:Coronary artery disease, in which stiffened arteries constrict blood flow to the heart, causing chest pain (angina), arrhythmias, or heart attacks.Heart failure, as the heart muscle stiffens or weakens and cannot pump blood efficiently.Left ventricular hypertrophy, in which the left chamber stiffens and hypertrophies creating a risk of sudden cardiac death.The heart has to work harder against the higher resistance, subjecting it to constant strain usually with lethal results.Brain DamageA healthy brain depends on regular blood supply. Hypertension disrupts this in frightening ways:Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or mini-strokes indicate blocked blood flow as a result of damaged arteries or clots.Stroke, a major killer and cause of disability, happens when brain blood supply is cut off.Vascular dementia, due to chronic impaired blood flow, affects memory and mental function.Even a minor increase in blood pressure can multiply the risk of stroke manifold, highlighting the need for timely intervention.Kidney DamageKidneys are the body's built-in filtration system, but their operation is greatly dependent on normal blood vessels. Long-standing hypertension may cause:Kidney scarring and impaired filtration.Kidney failure with the need for dialysis or transplant.Aggravated damage when paired with diabetes.Hypertension is among the top causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) world-wide, and its control is crucial to maintaining kidney function.Vision Loss and Eye ComplicationsElevated blood pressure can seriously impact the eyes by harming the tiny blood vessels in the retina:Hypertensive retinopathy, which can lead to bleeding, blurred vision, or blindness.Choroidopathy, where fluid accumulates and distorts vision.Optic neuropathy, where the optic nerve becomes damaged and vision is permanently impaired.Regular eye examinations are especially important for the hypertensive to detect such changes early.Effect on Sexual HealthSexual health is not spared by hypertension either:Male erectile dysfunction (ED) due to limited blood flow to the penis.Reduced libido and arousal in women, commonly involving vaginal dryness or anorgasmia.Such complications are under-discussed but have a strong impact on quality of life as well as relationship satisfaction.A new study in Sweden, headed by Dr. Jonas Wuopio of the Karolinska Institutet, has discovered a direct correlation between salt consumption and the development of arterial plaque regardless of blood pressure levels. The linear correlation demonstrates that the higher the salt consumption, the greater the atherosclerosis, which implies that salt can start to damage arteries well before hypertension fully develops.This finding underscores why dietary modification—such as reducing salt—need not await a diagnosis.Hypertension Prevention and Management TipsHypertension is also mostly preventable and manageable via lifestyle modifications, such as:Eating a balanced, low-sodium dietRegular exerciseHealthy weight maintenanceDecreasing alcohol consumption and smoking cessationMonitoring of blood pressure regularlyPharmacological agents are also readily available and effective if prescribed and consistently followed.Hypertension is not a figure, it's a complex, serious medical condition with far-reaching effects on your entire body. From heart attack and stroke to vision impairment and kidney disease, the consequences are dire and numerous but with heightened awareness, lifestyle modification, and medication, it's completely controllable.

world hypertension day: why hypertension leads to serious health problems?

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