Overcoming Hypertension: Ranking As Second-Leading Global Mortality Cause - Essay Sample

Introduction

This essay addresses one well-known problem in public health, hypertension. This problem is considered widely among the major cardiovascular diseases risks factors, for example, arrhythmia and angina (Rubin).

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In comparison with other problems in public health, hypertension is ranked second among diseases that cause mortality around the globe. Hypertension is a condition that occurs due to the increase in blood flow on vessel walls. Also, hypertension can be defined as a raise of arterial blood pressure to systolic/diastolic BP of above 140/90 mm Hg, respectively (Rubin). Generally, the hypertension problem can be categorized into essential and secondary hypertension. As evident causing factors of essential hypertension are heredity among several physiological parameters while on the other hand, secondary hypertension is caused mainly by known factors that play a role in increasing pressure in blood flow. The primary purpose of this essay, as mentioned above, is to discuss hypertension problems and analyze its solutions.

According to Yeates et al., the guidelines of WHO of the year between 2006-to-2015 shows the rate of mortality resulting from cardiovascular diseases; and nutritional deficiencies, prenatal and maternal conditions, and infectious diseases are expected to increase and decrease by 17% and 3%, respectively (.). The most commonly known causes of the problem of hypertension vary among the following risk factors; gender, alcohol consumption, persons age, leading lazy life, hereditary, and extra weight, among others. Primarily, the BP (Blood Pressure) in the arterial, is directly proportional to CO (cardiac output), blood flow output. And blood passage resistance through the PVR, peripheral vascular resistance (pre-capillary arterioles) hypertension may be as a result of an increase of CO (cardiac output) or an increase in the blood pressure of PR (Peripheral Resistance), BP= CO * PVR.

Causes of Hypertension

As briefly mentioned above, hypertension causes are yet to be known unless it is a secondary type of hypertension. But there exist several factors that are associated with hypertension occurrence. Examples of this underlying factors, according to Cunha et al. (2011), are such as excessive intake of salt, genetic factors, aging, and also sedentary lifestyle. According to the study conducted by Keaney et al. (2005), the occurrence of hypertension problem occurs among adults of between 20-to-79 years but is more commonly to geriatric individuals. Fewer movements and carrying out activities due to aging is one-factor, causing hypertension.

Arterial impaired abilities to expand when pumping blood can contribute to the hardening of the arteries' structure, thus affecting the pressure of the blood when pumped through the blood vessels. Changes in hormones also because of aging can also result in the problem of hypertension. Changes, for example, decrease in production of estrogen hormone, overreactive, and an underactive thyroid can too impact the increase of blood pressure. It has been mentioned that hypertension mostly occurs in aged women after menopause because of changes in hormones. But hormonal changes are not the leading cause of hypertension in geriatric people as other parameters have been identified to cause hypertension.

Chronic Kidney diseases, a condition where kidneys no longer filter out liquids, causes a buildup of excess fluids, which causes hypertension. Other conditions leading to hypertension include pregnancy, obesity, diabetes, sleep apnea, among others. Several factors increase the risk of hypertension. Some of these factors are discussed below.

Sedentary Lifestyle

Urbanization has highly contributed to changes in lifestyle hence increasing the risk for hypertension. Many people live with the disease without knowing since they don't opt for screening. Hypertension, among others, is predominant and accounts for mortality rates across the continent. Research has shown that most people living in urban areas show a higher incident of hypertension. Public awareness is mandatory for the affected to take strategic action on the same.

Salt Rich, High Fat Diet

Salt is mostly used today for food seasoning, especially in highly salted processed foods. Increased intake of salt has shown to improve hypertension over the years. Salt intake reduction can prevent or delay hypertension and contribute to the decrease of blood pressure reduction in hypertensive people. Also, the quantity and type of high-fat diet can have significant effects on the development of hypertension. Ingestion of high-fat diet elevates amounts of cholesterol, which results in diseases like high blood pressure and hypertension.

Other factors include ethnicity, where we have ethnic groups that are prone to hypertension than others. Alcohol and tobacco can also lead to high blood pressure and hypertension when consumed regularly and in large amounts. Age is also a contributing factor as older people of about 60 years of age are more likely to suffer from hypertension and blood pressure. This is because of their arteries narrow and stiffen. Research has proven that males are at a higher risk of getting the disease compared to women who have to wait until they reach menopause. Managing stress well and awareness of family history on the condition can also help reduce risks of hypertension.

There are many ways to prevent hypertension, and these include making the following healthy lifestyle choices.

Specialists' advice that hypertensive people should avoid adding weight and those who are overweight should try to reduce some. Carrying extra weight can put one at risk of developing hypertension. Reducing high-fat diet intake also reduces the chances of being hypertensive. Being overweight can cause breathing problems during sleep, which raises blood pressure.

2. Exercising regularly.

Exercising can help hypertensive people control blood pressure. Making small changes in daily routine can make a big difference in this case. Research has shown that it takes one to three months for regular exercise to have an impact on reducing blood pressure. Becoming more active can reduce the need for blood pressure and hypertension medication. Some examples of activities include cycling, swimming, jogging, walking, among others.

3. Consuming a balanced diet.

DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a dietary approach used by hypertensive people to monitor their diets. Some tips have been used to help boost eating habits. They include; keeping a food diary, being a smart shopper, and increasing potassium intake. Eating foods rich in vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains can help lower blood pressure.

Avoiding stress can help prevent hypertension, although it does not directly bring about its cause. It is also vital for people who smoke and drink to be concerned about their health concerning cardiovascular diseases, which can be caused by the development of hypertension. Both drinking and smoking can have tremendous effects on heart and blood pressure levels. Quitting smoking ad moderating alcohol consumption can highly prevent the rise of blood pressure levels as well as hypertension.

Doctors guidelines, or in many cases, clinical guidelines are the specific instructions set by the physician to guide the decisions towards a particular diagnostic. In this case, hypertension is a condition that requires critical doctor guidelines and follows up. These gestures by the patient and the doctor to monitor the diagnostic results in a more efficient form of managing the condition. Other remedies can result from the guidelines such as meals and medication as well as the daily non-clinical measurement of the disease that may assist in the monitoring and prescription of drugs (Mayo Clinic). These guidelines, however, require combined efforts of both the doctor and the patient in providing factual information about the follow up on exercising the guideline activities.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is signified by the measurement of the systolic and the diastolic measurements taken by the various blood pressure measuring instruments. For the guideline to work, there has to be a system of recording progress, which is through measurement. These measurements can be taken at home once the patient has been formally trained on how to use the instrument. Blood pressure measurements are represented by the numbers of the systolic over that of the diastolic measurements. Non-clinical measurement of blood pressure is always recommended for patients having severe hypertension (Clinical Practice Guideline). These non-clinical measurements assist in the prediction of future fatal incidents that may occur in case of stress or other factors aggravating the condition. These guidelines by the doctor may help the patient to be more conversant with the situation.

Conclusion

In general, hypertension is a controllable condition that relies on the effort of the patient. High blood pressure may result from different factors in the environment of the patient, such as food, weight, and drugs. The monitoring of the lifestyle of the patient may result in favorable management of the condition over time.

Works Cited

"High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) - Diagnosis And Treatment - Mayo Clinic". Mayoclinic.Org, 2019, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373417. Accessed 8 Dec 2019.

"Hypertension - Clinical Practice Guideline". Aafp.Org, 2019, https://www.aafp.org/patient-care/clinical-recommendations/all/highbloodpressure.html. Accessed 8 Dec 2019.

Cunha J. P & Marks J, W. "High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Signs, Causes, Diet, and Treatment." (2011). Retrieved from; https://www.medicinenet.com/high_blood_pressure_hypertension/article.htm

Karppanen, Heikki, and Eero Mervaala. "Sodium intake and hypertension." Progress in cardiovascular diseases 49.2 (2006): 59-75. Retrieved from; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17046432

Kearney, Patricia M., et al. "Global burden of hypertension: analysis of worldwide data." The lancet 365.9455 (2005): 217-223. Retrieved from; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15652604

Rubin, Lewis J. "Primary pulmonary hypertension." New England Journal of Medicine 336.2 (1997): 111-117.

Yeates, Karen, et al. "A global perspective on cardiovascular disease in vulnerable populations." Canadian Journal of Cardiology 31.9 (2015): 1081-1093. Retrieved from; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4787293/.