Avoid these top 10 mistakes if you have high blood pressure

High blood pressure often shows no specific symptoms, no warning signs, and is usually a result of being nonchalant about our health. Individuals over 40, those struggling with obesity, lipid disorders, and diabetes are more prone to hypertension than average individuals. It is advisable to regularly check blood pressure at healthcare facilities every six months. If diagnosed with hypertension (blood pressure ≥ 140/90mmHg), it is crucial to adhere to the methods and guidance provided by the doctor to safeguard our health.

Note before measuring blood pressure: refrain from eating or taking stimulants 30 minutes before, rest and relax, measure in a spacious, well-ventilated, moderately warm place, free from noise, and use an accurate blood pressure monitor that has been certified.

The World Hypertension Conference (2003) and ESH (2009) recommend initiating medication early upon detecting the condition to prevent further progression. However, due to various subjective factors, patients often neglect or misuse medication, not adhering to the doctor's instructions, resulting in a worsening of the condition.

Furthermore, many individuals self-administer combinations of blood pressure medications, causing unintended side effects, complicating monitoring and treatment. Some patients may also self-increase the dosage to alleviate symptoms like headaches, discomfort, attributing them to sudden high blood pressure, when, in reality, the symptoms may be weather-related. Self-increasing medication dosage can lead to excessive blood pressure drops, even posing a risk of dangerous vascular collapse.

Many patients remain nonchalant about treatment because they are in the early stages of hypertension and feel relatively healthy. If high blood pressure is not treated properly, the condition can progress rapidly.

Early medication use and proper treatment slow down the progression of the disease, bring blood pressure to a stable level, and prevent complications arising from high blood pressure. The European Society of Hypertension (ESH – 2007, ESH – 2009) recommends: Individuals under 80 with high blood pressure, without accompanying risks, should start treatment when blood pressure is ≥ 140/90mmHg; if there are risks, treatment should begin when blood pressure is ≥ 130/85mmHg, without waiting for lifestyle changes to take effect.

Individuals with high blood pressure, without other associated conditions, should follow a balanced diet with all essential nutrients. For those with conditions such as overweight, obesity, lipid disorders, or diabetes, a diet controlling fat, sugar, and protein intake (limiting but not excessively restricting intake to avoid nutrient deficiencies) is necessary to prevent these conditions from worsening and affecting blood pressure.

People with high blood pressure need a specific diet. Certain foods should be avoided, including high-salt foods, smoked meat, pickles, and foods high in fats. High blood pressure patients should consume plenty of green vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, while avoiding stimulants like alcohol, beer, and tobacco. Maintaining a well-balanced and nutritious diet requires consistent and strict adherence. Many patients, being nonchalant, find it challenging to meet these requirements.

When experiencing a stroke incident affecting the brain's blood vessels, some may attribute it to high blood pressure, causing vessel rupture, and self-administer blood pressure-lowering medications, potentially in excessive doses.

We should not self-administer medication; instead, consult with a doctor, seek medical attention at a hospital if there are signs of stroke, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or rapid breathing. Self-administering blood pressure-lowering medication can lead to excessively low blood pressure, hindering blood flow to other brain regions, exacerbating the severity of the stroke incident.

The Vietnamese Cardiology Association advises individuals with high blood pressure to measure blood pressure at least twice a day, in the early morning and evening, to monitor changes in blood pressure indices. Any abnormalities can be detected early, allowing for timely emergency intervention.

Every individual's daily activities such as physical activity, stress, diet, etc., can impact the stability of blood pressure indices.

Individuals with high blood pressure should engage in regular exercise for optimal health. However, they should choose light, easy-to-perform exercises lasting only 30-40 minutes, ensuring the heart rate stays between 105-125 beats per minute, such as walking or slow jogging.

Those with high blood pressure should avoid intensive exercises (burning over 500 calories/hour), high-speed and challenging activities, and prolonged durations like weightlifting, tennis, or sprinting... especially if there is an underlying cardiovascular risk, certain exercises need to be restricted based on the doctor's advice.

Many patients, after successfully treating their high blood pressure and seeing it return to normal, have voluntarily stopped taking medication because they believe they are completely healthy. In reality, very few individuals with high blood pressure can be cured. This is because if you belong to the 90% with unknown causes for elevated blood pressure, finding a way to control it can be challenging.

Some people think that eating bland food, exercising to lose weight can improve the condition. In fact, these measures only play a supportive role and cannot replace medication.

Symptoms of high blood pressure are often inconsistent with the severity of the condition. Sometimes, the signs are very clear, but the blood pressure is not very high.

Conversely, some individuals have high blood pressure, but clinical symptoms are very subtle. Experts explain that if elevated blood pressure is a consequence of another medical condition, even if the blood pressure is not very high, it may manifest clear symptoms of the underlying cause. Therefore, regular blood pressure monitoring is essential to track the health status.

In winter, many people fear the cold and opt for extremely hot baths. Taking excessively hot baths can damage the skin, leading to dilation of capillaries. The intense heat increases pressure on the heart as all blood vessels on the skin dilate, causing a lack of oxygen supply to the heart.

More dangerously, in cases of cold baths (insufficiently warm water), blood vessels in the body contract, affecting blood circulation, making individuals with high blood pressure susceptible to heart failure and stroke.