9 Hypertension Myths We’ve All Believed For Far Too Long
According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), over a billion of the world population suffers from hypertension,
but many of these people have no idea they have the disease or
knowingly neglect their condition, exposing themselves to the risk of
heart disease, stroke, and other no less serious complications. In part,
this is because many of us are misled to believe that high blood
pressure is not a serious issue, or that only older people suffer from
it. None of that is true.
In fact, reputable sources like the WHO and
the American Heart Association (AHA) report that there are quite a lot
of dangerous myths surrounding high blood pressure, myths that end up
causing a great deal of harm to hypertension sufferers all across the
globe. In this article, we dispel 9 such seriously misleading myths, so
that we’re able to understand hypertension more and take better care of
ourselves and our loved ones.
1. Hypertension isn’t a serious issue
Hypertension is one of the most common
chronic irreversible health conditions in the US. According to the AHA,
around 45% of Americans suffer from hypertension, which is nearly half
of the overall population. At the same time, the severity and potential
dangers of this health condition are grossly underestimated, and many
consider high blood pressure to be no big deal. This is just not true,
and in reality, high blood pressure can lead to many serious
complications and even sudden death.
Over time, hypertension makes larger blood
vessels less elastic, which impairs the oxygen supply to various organs,
and can even make small blood vessels in the brain burst and become
blocked. According to the WHO, high blood pressure can lead to the
following health issues:
Heart attack
Heart failure
Irregular heartbeat (this can lead to sudden death)
Chest pain, also known as angina
Stroke
Kidney damage.
Medical News Today further reports that hypertension can lead to vision
loss, sexual dysfunction, and peripheral artery disease. Without a
doubt, these dangerous factors make hypertension a very serious
condition that requires treatment and lifestyle adjustments.
2. I don’t use salt in my food, so I’m managing my sodium levels
Managing your sodium intake is crucial when
you have high blood pressure. Many people conflate sodium intake with
the amount of salt you add to your foods, but in reality, reducing or
eliminating the use of table salt in your diet is just part of the
solution. As a matter of fact, the CDC established that processed foods
account for at least 40% of our daily sodium intake, namely the
following foods:
Pizza
Sandwiches
Bread
Eggs and omelets
Sandwich meat
Canned soup
Chips, pretzels, crackers, and other savory snacks
Tacos and burritos
Cheese.
Even sweet ultra-processed foods, such as chocolate, candy, breakfast
cereals, and soft drinks are extremely high in salt. Therefore, looking
at labels is key - search for the keywords “sodium”, “Na”, and “soda” on
the ingredient label. Also understand that consuming added sea salt or
kosher salt is the same as regular table salt, as all three of these
have the same sodium content.
The WHO recommends cutting down your daily
sodium intake to 5 grams a day, a small sacrifice to pay for your
cardiovascular health. They state that doing so would prevent 2.5
million deaths every year.
3. Hypertension is inevitable
Another common misconception is the idea
that high blood pressure cannot be prevented, especially in older age,
and everyone is bound to get it. Although hypertension is more prevalent
in older adults, it’s by no means a normal part of aging. Not all
seniors and not only older people suffer from this condition: the
condition affects 63.1% of people 60+ years old, 33.2% in the 40-59 age
range, and 7.5% in the age range of 18-39.
In addition, many people also believe that they will surely have
hypertension if the condition runs in the family. While it is certainly
true that hypertension has a genetic component, research shows that
maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet can cancel out the genetic
predisposition to high blood pressure.
According to a 2018 study looking at 277,005 patients concluded the
following: “We show that adherence to a healthy lifestyle (including
[healthful] diet, limited alcohol consumption, low urinary sodium
excretion, low body mass index [BMI], and increased physical activity)
is associated with lower blood pressure regardless of the underlying
blood pressure genetic risk”. Therefore, though hypertension isn’t
curable, it’s very much so preventable, no matter what your genetic risk
or age is.
4. Only men suffer from high blood pressure
As we’ve already established, lifestyle
plays an incredibly important role in diminishing one’s risk of
hypertension. Similarly, a poor diet, low activity levels, and being
overweight can increase one’s risk of high blood pressure for both men
and women.
In fact, in the age range of 45–64 years, men and women have a nearly
identical risk of hypertension according to 2016 statistics. What’s
more, after 64 years old, women have a higher risk of hypertension than
men. The only age range in which men are more likely to develop
hypertension is 45 years old and younger.
5. You’re fine if only one of the measurements is off
You’re likely aware that blood pressure
(bp) readings consist of two measurements - the top (systolic) blood
pressure number and the second (diastolic) number. Systolic measurements
show the pressure with which blood runs through the veins during a
heartbeat, whereas the diastolic measurement reflects the blood pressure
while your heart is resting.
Systolic blood pressure of 130 and above is considered high, as is
diastolic pressure of 80 and greater.
Oftentimes, people pay more attention to the top number, as higher
systolic bp is associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart
attack in older adults. However, higher diastolic measurements are just
as important as systolic ones, and you must seek treatment if you get
any consistently high readings to prevent your organs from damage.
6. Low blood pressure isn’t an issue
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is
definitely less talked about than hypertension, but that doesn't mean
that hypotension is benign. While many people have a naturally lower
blood pressure than others, drops in blood pressure can be a concern, as
it can cause dizziness, or make you faint or go into shock. The first
two are a concern, especially for the elderly, as they often lead to a
serious fall. Shock, on the other hand, is even more dangerous, as it
can cause sudden death if not treated immediately.
7. Red wine is considered healthy for the heart, so I can safely indulge
in it
Red wine is touted for its ability to
benefit the body, and the incredible antioxidants present in red wine
can really improve your digestion and help reduce the risk of
degenerative diseases, including hypertension. However, that doesn't
mean that you can drink as much red wine as you can. In fact, according
to the most recent research, just 1 glass once in 2 weeks is enough to
reap all the benefits of red wine, and having more than half a glass to a
glass of red wine a day will actually harm your health.
What's more, the AHA points out that heavy and regular consumption of
alcohol can lead to dramatic spikes in blood pressure or even heart
failure, stroke, and an irregular heartbeat. Not to mention that all
alcoholic beverages are super high in sugar and will make you gain
weight if you drink alcoholic beverages regularly.
8. Surely, I would notice the symptoms if I had hypertension
There's a reason why doctors call
hypertension "the silent killer". Unfortunately, most people don't know
that they have the condition until they start measuring their blood
pressure regularly. In fact, it was estimated that around 11 million
people in the US do not know that they have high blood pressure. It can
take years of having the condition for common symptoms like feeling
tired, dizzy, lightheaded, or confused to appear. Therefore, it's safest
to measure your blood pressure regularly, especially if you're older or
have a genetic predisposition to hypertension.
9. Once my blood pressure normalizes, I can stop taking my prescription
If you were diagnosed with hypertension,
you'll likely be suffering from the condition for life, at least until
doctors find a cure for it. Medication may bring your blood pressure
back to normal, but that doesn't mean that you have to stop taking it,
even if you also adjust your lifestyle and diet.
Never discontinue a blood pressure medication prescription without your
doctor’s knowledge and approval. As the AHA points out on their website:
“Expect to treat high blood pressure for life. Doctors will sometimes
reduce a [person’s] drug dosages after achieving normal blood pressure
and maintaining it for a year or more, although it is rare for the
treatment to be stopped entirely. Some form of treatment must be
continued over a lifetime for good results.”