High blood pressure: early detection lowers risk

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can have serious consequences and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. More than half of those affected are not aware that they have the condition because hypertension often presents with no or only non-specific symptoms. 

However, a healthy diet, exercise and sport can improve the situation considerably. If you suspect you might have high blood pressure, you should see your doctor early on for advice on changing your lifestyle and using medication to lower your blood pressure.

What causes high blood pressure? Which risk factors should be taken into consideration in order to prevent cardiovascular disease?

Common long-term effects include heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney damage and hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis). Approximately 13% of all deaths worldwide are partly attributable to high blood pressure. A reduction in systolic blood pressure of 10 mmHg (the unit of pressure used to measure blood pressure) reduces the risk of stroke by around 40% and the risk of heart attack by around 20–25%.

Why high blood pressure is insidious
It often goes unnoticed for a long time because it usually does not present any symptoms. It is often caused by stress and an unhealthy lifestyle, with the underlying causes frequently found in day-to-day life.

Important risk factors include:

• Lack of exercise: According to the WHO (World Health Organisation), anyone doing less than 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or less than 75 minutes of intense activity per week is not getting enough exercise.
• Being overweight Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz (Swiss health promotion agency) defines obesity as a BMI (body mass index = body weight/height2) of 25 or more.
• High-sodium diet: The WHO recommends a maximum salt intake of 5 grams per day.
• High levels of alcohol consumption: There is no precise definition of what constitutes excessive alcohol consumption. The Berner Gesundheit organisation defines chronic alcohol consumption as two drinks per day for women and four drinks per day for men. 
• Smoking:  The WHO defines any amount of tobacco consumption as harmful. Whether they smoke every day or just occasionally, according to a report by The Lancet, both groups of people are considered smokers. The more often they smoke, the higher the risk factor.
• Chronic stress: If stress persists for weeks or months and results in symptoms, it is referred to as chronic stress.
• Genetic predisposition: A person’s genes can determine how their body stores fat, performs metabolic functions, and reacts to stress. While genetics do not necessarily trigger a disease, they can increase the likelihood of developing it. 
• Old age: A typical definition of old age includes people aged 65 and over. However, the FOPH (Swiss Federal Office of Public Health) considers people over 75 to be a vulnerable group in its studies.

How to lower high blood pressure – without taking medication
A healthy diet, exercise and sport can make a big difference.

Here are some tips to help you keep your blood pressure in check:

• Salt intake: Recommended intake in Switzerland: < 5g/day. In fact, the average person consumes approximately 9-10g per day.
• Staying active: Regular exercise lowers blood pressure by an average of 5–8 mmHg. The WHO recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week.
• Sustainable weight loss: Even a 5-10% reduction in weight can significantly lower blood pressure in overweight individuals. You can calculate your BMI on the Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz website, for example.
• Life style: Stress keeps the cardiovascular system constantly activated. Targeted relaxation can offset this.

Limits that apply to adults.
Doctors operate on the following values:

• Normal: < 120/80 mmHg 
• Elevated: 120–129/< 80 mmHg
• High blood pressure: ≥ 140/90 mmHg

High blood pressure responds well to treatment but there is no cure. The most effective way to manage it is a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. Finally, measuring your blood pressure regularly can help detect high blood pressure at an early stage.