At What Age Should Hypertension Start To Be Managed?

Managing hypertension is very important, especially when age increases, since it is a silent disease that significantly affects our cardiovascular system.

Hypertension (HT) is one of the most prevalent diseases and one of the leading causes of premature death in the world. According to the WHO, it is estimated that ” globally, there are 1.13 billion people with hypertension, and most of them (about two-thirds) live in low- and middle-income countries.”

In Spain, the Dia@bet.es study carried out in 2016, detected that “ 42.6% of the Spanish adult population over 18 years of age is hypertensive”. Therefore, it is considered one of the first causes of visits to the doctor in the field of primary medicine.

With the current sedentary life, in combination with an unhealthy diet, HTN is increasingly being detected at an earlier age. In this article we will tell you when and how to manage hypertension.

What is hypertension?

Blood pressure is the force that circulating blood exerts against the walls of the arteries, which are large vessels through which blood circulates in the body. When it is too high, it is considered hypertension.

Blood pressure is expressed by two figures:

• Systolic pressure : represents the pressure exerted by the blood on the vessels when the heart contracts or beats. The normal value is less than 120 mmHg.
• Diastolic pressure : represents the pressure exerted on the vessels when the heart relaxes between one beat and another. The normal value is less than 80 mmHg.

To establish the diagnosis of hypertension, we need the taking of 2 or more measurements carried out in 2 or more medical visits. In both readings, the systolic pressure must be greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and the diastolic pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg.

However, it is always more reliable to measure blood pressure at home by 24-hour ambulatory monitoring, thus avoiding the ‘white coat effect’. This consists in that the environment of the medical consultation or the presence of the doctor can make some patients get nervous and they get a high tension that is not the real one.

In the case of outpatient measurement, there is hypertension when the values ​​of 135/85 are exceeded. However, it should be noted that ‘normal’ blood pressure varies depending on the age of the patient.

What does hypertension mean in our health?

High blood pressure can cause serious heart damage, such as angina pectoris, heart attack, heart failure, and irregular heartbeat, which can lead to sudden death. This is because excess pressure can harden the arteries, reducing the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.

Hypertension can also cause the arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the brain to become blocked or ruptured, leading to a stroke or stroke. Likewise, it can cause kidney damage that would lead to kidney failure.

At what age should hypertension begin to be managed?

High blood pressure can be present in all phases of life. But, as we have said before, and more and more frequently diagnosed s from 40-50 years. However, due to our sedentary lifestyle and diet, hypertension occurs more and more in younger people.

Difference between sexes

We found a higher percentage of hypertension in men under 45 years of age than in women. Between 45-65 years, the tensions between men and women are usually similar, but, when they are over 65 years of age, women with HT outnumber men with this disease.

This is because women have already gone through menopause, which involves a drastic decrease in female hormones or estrogens. These dilate the arteries, reducing the tension in them and, therefore, protecting them from hypertension.

In conclusion, how to manage hypertension?

Hypertension does not usually give symptoms, it is a ‘silent disease’ and many people do not usually realize that they have it. Therefore, it is necessary to make a regular visit to your GP for a check-up. As we have said, it can occur at any stage of life.

The best thing is that from a young age we learn healthy lifestyle habits to be able to prevent it. Checking your blood pressure is very easy, in any pharmacy or during your medical visits. If you detect abnormal values ​​in more than two measurements, go to the doctor.

If you have already been detected high blood pressure, you have to control your blood pressure at home as indicated by the doctor. It is important that you take the prescribed medication and lead a healthier lifestyle. Thus, you can enjoy better cardiovascular health.