Understanding high blood pressure’s significance

Do you have high blood pressure? High blood pressure, commonly known as either hypertension or arterial hypertension, is a serious medical condition that can have several effects on your body and your quality of life.

In this article, we’ll look at why it’s important to take action to treat your high blood pressure. We’ll also examine the effects of high blood pressure and how they take an immense toll on your health, your body and your quality of life.

How many people suffer from high blood pressure?

Did you know that almost one billion people suffer from high blood pressure. Close to one quarter of the entire adult population of the world is affected by high blood pressure in one form or another.

Certain regions suffer from high blood pressure at higher rates than others. Europe, for example, has a worryingly high rate of high blood pressure, with 30-45% of all people across the continent affected by high blood pressure as of 2013.

One of the reasons high blood pressure matters is because of the scale of its effects on the world. Unlike other medical conditions, which affect small populations and are geographically isolated, high blood pressure is both frequent and global.

The health effects of high blood pressure in adults

Most people know that high blood pressure increases your risk of having a stroke or developing heart disease. While these are the most worrying health complications of high blood pressure, they’re far from the only ones.

In addition to increasing your risk of stroke or developing heart disease, high blood pressure can lead to kidney disease and – in severe cases – kidney failure. It can also damage the blood vessels in your eyes and severely affect your eyesight.

Diabetes is another major health effects of high blood pressure. Having high blood pressure significantly increases your risk of developing diabetes and, if you suffer from diabetes already, can increase the negative health effects of diabetes.

During pregnancy, high blood pressure can lead to life-threatening health issues and severe complications. Known as preeclampsia and eclampsia, this condition can lead to severe seizures and, in some cases, even the death of the foetus and mother.

Finally, in men, high blood pressure can contribute to erectile dysfunction. This is a complicated issue, as many of the drugs used to treat high blood pressure can make hypertension-related erectile dysfunction more severe.

The importance of treating (and preventing) high blood pressure

Close to one billion people suffer from high blood pressure and its numerous health complications. If you suffer from some of the symptoms of high blood pressure, it is very important that you have your blood pressure measured as soon as possible.

If you already suffer from high blood pressure, a combination of lifestyle changes and medication can help you manage your condition. Exercising more frequently, losing weight and making changes to your diet are all proven ways to manage the health effects of high blood pressure.

Finally, it’s important to understand that high blood pressure doesn’t need to be a condition you fear throughout your life. With the right combination of changes to your lifestyle and medication, you can manage your high blood pressure.