High blood pressure silently attacks young people.

Hypertension, once considered a disease of old age, is now silently "attacking" young people at an alarming rate. Statistics from hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City show that many patients in their early 30s, and even those under 25, are already requiring treatment for high blood pressure, cardiovascular complications, and strokes.

Doctors from the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City examine patients.

Subjectivity and an unscientific lifestyle.

Recently, Mr. HQP (38 years old, residing in Binh Tri Dong ward, Ho Chi Minh City) suffered cardiac arrest after a dinner with his family. According to relatives, Mr. P. had recently gotten married and had no children. During his most recent health checkup at work, he was found to have high blood pressure, but he neglected treatment because he thought he was still young and healthy. On May 18th, after eating, Mr. P. complained of feeling tired and went to sit on the porch to rest. A few minutes later, he collapsed and suffered cardiac and respiratory arrest.

Dr. Nguyen Thang Nhat Tue, a specialist in internal medicine and in charge of a satellite emergency station under the 115 Emergency Center network in Ho Chi Minh City, said that when the emergency team arrived, Mr. P. was in a coma, with cyanosis in his hands and feet, and dilated pupils (5mm). Despite resuscitation efforts, Mr. P. passed away.

The University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City frequently receives critically ill patients diagnosed with hypertension who have abandoned treatment or missed follow-up appointments. According to Professor, Doctor Truong Quang Binh, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City, previously, patients over 60 years old with hypertension accounted for a high percentage. However, an increasing number of patients under 60 are being diagnosed with this condition, accounting for 40% of all patients examined and diagnosed with hypertension at the hospital.

One of the reasons for the increasing prevalence of hypertension at younger ages is an unhealthy lifestyle and daily habits that lead to many risk factors such as: a habit of eating salty foods, consuming a lot of fast food, drinking a lot of beer and alcohol, lack of exercise, obesity, and frequent stress and anxiety.

High blood pressure is often asymptomatic. Even more dangerously, up to 90% of patients have no identifiable cause. In young people, a complacent attitude often leads many to discover the disease unknowingly during routine health checkups, or worse, only when dangerous complications have already developed.

In fact, many people unexpectedly suffer strokes, myocardial infarctions, or cerebral infarctions even though they were previously in good health, mostly due to complications from hypertension. Hypertension can also lead to many other complications such as: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, heart failure, retinal hemorrhage, vision loss, kidney failure, or aortic diseases… These are serious complications, and in many cases, they can be fatal if not treated promptly.

Adherence to treatment

Dr. Tran Hoa, Deputy Head of the Interventional Cardiology Department at the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City, shared that approximately 20%-25% of the world's and Vietnam's population suffers from hypertension. The best way to detect hypertension early is through regular health checkups. Individuals can also measure their blood pressure themselves or visit the nearest medical facility. If either of the two readings – systolic blood pressure (the upper number) 140 mmHg or higher, or diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) 90 mmHg or higher – is considered hypertension.

As soon as you notice signs of high blood pressure or experience even fleeting symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, or headaches upon waking up in the morning, you should see a doctor for timely diagnosis and treatment. Individuals with risk factors such as a high-salt diet, a sedentary lifestyle, excessive alcohol consumption, frequent stress, older age, and a family history of hypertension should have regular health checkups.

A worrying issue today is that up to 50% of people diagnosed with hypertension do not adhere to treatment. Furthermore, many people, despite being diagnosed and treated, still do not achieve their target blood pressure (below 140/90 mmHg). This is due to patients not adhering to medication and having inappropriate lifestyles (habits of eating salty foods, lack of exercise, being overweight or obese...). In addition, patients often forget to take their medication, do not combine medications to control risk factors, or do not take the full prescribed dose as directed by their doctor.

To achieve effective treatment for hypertension, patients should cooperate well with their doctors throughout the treatment and disease management process. Treatment requires adherence to both medication use and maintaining a regular diet, lifestyle, and exercise regimen. "Patients must adhere strictly to the treatment plan to minimize the risk of serious cardiovascular events. In addition to regular check-ups, if there are any unusual changes in blood pressure, heart rate, chest tightness, reduced exertion, shortness of breath, etc., they should seek immediate medical attention," advises Dr. Tran Hoa.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health , approximately 20-25% of the Vietnamese population suffers from hypertension, and 50% of patients are unaware they have it. People are still complacent, not paying enough attention to blood pressure measurement and proactive screening, resulting in a low percentage of patients being diagnosed.

MINH NAM

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/benh-tang-huyet-ap-am-tham-tan-cong-nguoi-tre-post853995.html