High blood pressure is a disease that, according to data from the Ministry of Health, is characterized by high levels of blood pressure in the arteries, which means that the heart needs to exert a greater effort than normal to make the blood circulate correctly through the body. .
According to the Brazilian Guidelines on Arterial Hypertension – 2020, from the Brazilian Society of Cardiology, among the main risk factors related to high blood pressure are: genetics, age, gender, ethnicity, overweight/obesity, sodium intake, sedentary lifestyle , alcohol consumption, socioeconomic factors, obstructive sleep apnea, among others.
High blood pressure in the elderly
Still according to the Guidelines, age, more specifically aging, is among the main risk factors related to high blood pressure. “In the case of the elderly, it is almost unanimous that everyone at some point becomes hypertensive, due to the aging of blood vessels, which were previously similar to a rubber or silicone rubber band, over the years they lose this elasticity due to aging, becoming more stiffened, similar to a PVC pipe, which increases the pressure of the blood passing through there”, explains cardiologist Rodrigo Bazzo.
Relationship with menopause
In the sixth decade of life, blood pressure among women is usually higher. They also need to be aware of menopause. “With the drop in hormone levels in women, there is a tendency to develop hypertension at this stage of female life”, explains cardiologist Allan Cembranel.
The risks, however, can be minimized with some precautions. “But early diagnosis of menopause, hormone replacement therapies and stricter control of the woman’s physical health can prevent the onset of the disease”, says the doctor.
high blood pressure in men
Unlike women, men tend to have some resistance when it comes to looking for a doctor and this becomes a big risk when it comes to high blood pressure. “The success of the treatment (control of blood pressure levels and reduction of the risk cardiovascular), depends directly on precocity: detection of the problem, treatment and effective control of systemic arterial hypertension”, explains cardiologist Anderson Rodrigues.
High blood pressure in children and adolescents
High blood pressure is less common in children and teenagers, but they can still be affected by the condition. “When it is diagnosed, the first measure to be taken is to assess whether there is any pathology that is raising the pressure. Once a pathology is diagnosed that increases the pressure level, the control of this disease may even cure hypertension”, explains cardiologist Francisco Maia.
Cardiologist Anderson Rodrigues adds that obese children are more likely to develop high blood pressure. Therefore, playing sports and having a balanced diet is essential for them to have a healthier childhood.
high blood pressure in pregnant women
High blood pressure is a disease that can affect any pregnant woman. The causes can also be varied: genetics, lack of weight control, a diet rich in sodium, bad eating habits, previous illnesses, multiple gestation, among others.
“High blood pressure can be harmful to the baby, and can lead to accelerated maturation of the placenta and decreased fetus nutrition, bringing consequences ranging from developmental delay to death,” warns cardiologist Gualter Boaventura Cancado. Prenatal care and regular visits to the gynecologist are very important, as “they greatly reduce the incidence of complications resulting from hypertension during pregnancy”.
Source: Maxima
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