Essay Example on High Blood Pressure: Global Scourge of Cardiovascular Illness

Introduction

High blood pressure or hypertension is a common condition by which the long-term forces of the blood against artery walls rise to levels that can expose an individual to health problems. High blood pressure condition is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular illness; it originates from combined genetic, environmental, and social determinants. Hypertension is a leading cause of disability-adjusted life years crosses the globe. Notably, individuals can suffer from hypertension for prolonged periods without exhibiting any symptoms. Even without hypertension symptoms, the existence of the condition can be damaging to blood vessels. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is detrimental to the health of individuals as it heightens the risk of serious illnesses such as heart attacks and stroke. Treatment and lifestyle changes are critical elements of controlling and curbing life-threatening complications associated with the disease.

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Sensitization on Dangers Associated With High Blood Pressure

According to Cifu and Davis (2017), hypertension that goes unattended can quietly damage the body. Uncontrolled blood pressure exposes an individual to possibilities of disability, living a poor quality life, and in extreme cases developing a stroke or heart attack. Some dangers associated with high blood pressure include damaged and narrowed arteries. Hypertension destroys the inner lining of arteries cells, which can get dangerous since fats that enter the bloodstream can accumulate in the damaged arteries. It results in the artery walls getting less elastic, an aspect that slows and limits blood flow within the body. Besides, increased pressure in the artery can cause an aneurysm. It exposes individuals to the risk of arteries rapturing and exposing the victim to dangers of internal bleeding.

Hypertension also exposes an individual to different forms of heart damage. According to Kjeldsen (2018), some of the injuries that the heart can suffer include coronary artery disease, which is characterized by narrowed arteries that can get destroyed by the high pressure, leading to an inadequate supply of blood to the heart. It leads to chest pains, irregular heart rhythms, and in extreme cases, heart attacks. A prolonged strain to the heart owing to blood pressure can lead to the weakening of the heart muscles. Eventually, the overwhelmed heart would begin to fail. Besides, damages to the heart, hypertension can have advance damages to the brain and kidneys. The brain is dependent on nourished blood pumped by the heart to work correctly. An occurrence entailing the brain getting deprived of oxygen and nutrients supplied by the blood can lead to a stroke. Kidneys also get exposed to the risk of developing problems following high blood pressure, such as kidney failure, with the high blood pressure preventing the kidneys from effectively filtering waste from the blood.

Educative Approaches

Informative Approach

There is a use of an educational and informative approach in educating the public about blood pressure. The pedagogical approach focuses on explaining what is high blood pressure by expounding on how the issue occurs and how it affects an individual. For instance, the heart is a muscle that performs blood pumping duties; however, any problem affecting arteries can make it harder for the heart to pump blood. Besides, persistent high blood pressure strains the walls of the arteries, an incidence that can be problematic, leading to life-threatening issues (Chen et al. 2018).

Sensitization on the prevalence of high blood pressure employs an approach of educating the masses on signs and symptoms. According to Cifu and Davis (2017), most people with high blood pressure will not exhibit symptoms, an aspect that makes the condition a lethal silent killer. Nonetheless, with blood pressure reaching highs of 180/120 mm Hg, it becomes a hypertensive crisis that can get termed as a medical emergency. At the extreme levels, individuals will likely experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, nonbleeding, breathlessness, and dizziness. Should an individual develop such signs and symptoms, they are advised to see their doctor immediately.

Populations- Based Approaches in Hypertension Prevention

Population-based approaches in the prevention and control of hypertension are the most important and relevant components of hypertension prevention programs (Carey et al. 2018). Different elements of hypertension prevention fit neatly with the state and local public health prerogatives and plan related to healthy eating. It promotes active living and obesity prevention measures and campaigns. The population-based approaches to the prevention of hypertension are integrated into the local and state health prerogatives rather than getting recreated as separate and standalone entities. Notably, the local and state programs such as those addressing healthy eating, living an active lifestyle, and fighting obesity play a vital role in the prevention of hypertension since issues discussed in these programs are risk factors associated with heightened risks of the individuals suffering hypertension. It makes the population-based programs relevant to the population. Nonetheless, adjustments and expansions must be made to the plans to cater to older communities and high-risk exposed people such as African Americans.

Promoting Lifestyle Changes

There are no specific established cures for hypertension. However, using medication and making some adjustments in an individual's lifestyle can enhance the quality of life and reduce the possibilities suffering from heart diseases, kidney failures, stroke, and other illnesses associated with the occurrence of hypertension. Top of the changes that an individual must undertake after being diagnosed with hypertension is to habitually monitor their blood pressure, which is a critical move towards establishing and understand your pressure patterns (Carey et al. 2018). Lifestyle changes should include changes like an individual eating balanced diets that are low in salts. Hypertension patients should limit their alcohol consumption, undertake regular physical activities, quit smoking, keep a healthy weight, and ensure they take their medication as directed by doctors.

Lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, will help manage blood pressure. Some of these lifestyle changes include eating foods that are low in fats and salts, increasing fruit, vegetables, and whole grains intake. Getting regular exercise is critical in ensuring individuals maintain a healthy weight and lower their blood pressure. Being at a healthy weight is vital to living healthy and averting hypertension. Fighting obesity can help control blood pressure and reduce the risk of developing other health issues. Limiting alcohol intake is essential since alcohol raises blood pressure and contributes to weight gain owing to calories increase in the body. Smoking is also a risk factor that raises an individual's blood pressure and exposes individuals to risks of suffering heart attacks and stroke (Ozemek et al. 2018). Individuals suffering from hypertension must manage stress. Stress management can get attained by learning how to relax since it improves emotional and physical health, which lowers blood pressure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hypertension has been identified as a silent killer since, in the early stages of the illness, it will not exhibit symptoms. Hypertension has gotten linked as a risk factor for various dangerous diseases such as kidney failure, stroke, and heart attacks. Different approaches get established to educate the public on preventive measures to help protect against the development of the condition. Population-based approaches are an effective approach in sensitization, such as promoting active living, healthy eating, and obesity prevention. Besides, lifestyle changes have played a critical role in managing blood pressure.

References

Carey, R. M., Muntner, P., Bosworth, H. B., & Whelton, P. K. (2018). Reprint of: Preventionand control of hypertension: JACC Health Promotion Series. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 72(23), 2996-3011.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109718388545

Chen, W., Zhou, Z., Zhang, X., Wu, J., Yu, X., Xiao, Q., & Wu, M. (2018). A3128 Implementation on the three-dimensional and total process managed prevention and control system of hypertension in Shenzhen, China. Journal of Hypertension, 36, e287. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/A3128-Implementation-on-the-three-dimensional-and-Chen-Zhou/46cfbcc259a755386c544f882da06164bf9af937

Cifu, A. S., & Davis, A. M. (2017). Prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults. Jama, 318(21), 2132134. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2664350

Kjeldsen, S. E. (2018). Hypertension and cardiovascular risk: general aspects. Pharmacological Research, 129, 95-99. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661817311180

Ozemek, C., Laddu, D. R., Arena, R., & Lavie, C. J. (2018). The role of diet for the prevention and management of hypertension. Current opinion in cardiology, 33(4), 388-393. https://journals.lww.com/cocardiology/Fulltext/2018/07000/The_role_of_diet_for_prevention_and_management_of.7.aspx