Be Wary of The Silent Killer
29 September 2023
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, three out of 10 Malaysians live with hypertension, equating to 6.4 million people being affected. However, only half of them are aware of it, as high blood pressure can be a silent killer.
There are generally no obvious symptoms until complications arise. Most of the time, patients only discover they have hypertension when they suffer a stroke, heart attack or kidney failure, or they may discover it incidentally if they have a blood pressure machine at home.
Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City cardiologist Datuk Dr Yap Yee Guan explains that 95% of the time, primary hypertension, also known as essential hypertension, has no underlying causes.
However, the remaining 5% have secondary causes due to congenital problems such as narrowing of the kidney arteries or tumours of the adrenal glands which cause an excessive amount of hormones in the body, resulting in higher blood pressure.
Diagnosing Hypertension
Doctors play a crucial role in differentiating genuine hypertension from white-coat hypertension. The latter occurs when elevated blood pressure results from the anxiety or apprehension associated with medical settings.
Dr Yap outlines two distinct approaches to differentiate between white coat hypertension and essential hypertension, or possibly a combination of both. “Firstly, individuals are instructed to conduct blood pressure measurements in the comfort of their homes.
“This method capitalises on the absence of doctor-related stressors at home. By doing so, if their blood pressure readings remain elevated, it implies the presence of genuine hypertension. This practice entails consistent monitoring over a week, with patients subsequently presenting their readings to a doctor.
“The second method involves utilising ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM), which employs a portable blood pressure device. Similar to wearing an old-style Walkman, this device features a cuff that periodically measures blood pressure, even during sleep.”
Lifestyle Modifications and Treatments
The initial step in managing hypertension is guiding individuals towards lifestyle adjustments. This encompasses a reduction in the consumption of salty foods, as excess salt is detrimental for hypertensive patients.
Emphasising exercise and weight loss within the lifestyle, assuming blood pressure is within manageable levels, is also crucial to lowering hypertension.
Furthermore, adopting a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruits, vegetables, seeds and whole grain products is advisable. This holistic approach constitutes the essence of lifestyle modification, wherein dietary improvements and physical activity take centre stage in treatment.
Following these lifestyle changes, the next phase involves introducing medication and maintaining regular follow-ups with your doctor.
Source: The Star
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