Symptoms and hazards of hypertension:
High blood pressure poses serious risks.
- The prevalence of hypertension is high. In the United States, one in every two people aged 20 or older has hypertension. Compared to ten years ago, the prevalence has increased by 31%. hypertension affects approximately 116 million adults in the United States and more than 1 billion adults worldwide.
- The health hazards are significant: hypertension causes circulatory system disorders and internal organ damage, leading to complications. Common complications include stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and kidney damage. It is also associated with diabetes and eye damage. Among the top causes of death, cardiovascular diseases rank first for Americans, with hypertension listed as the primary risk factor. Therefore, hypertension is also known as the “silent killer” of humans.
- The economic burden is heavy: it is estimated that the direct and indirect treatment costs of hypertension and its complications in the United States amount to $131 billion. This does not include the additional costs associated with caring for severe cases.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
Early or mild hypertension may not present with obvious symptoms. Some symptoms are not unique to hypertension patients, such as headaches, dizziness, poor sleep, fatigue, memory loss, irritability, palpitations, etc. The severity of the symptoms is not always proportional to the patient’s condition or blood pressure. Many patients have no symptoms and only discover they have hypertension during a physical examination. Some patients only find out they have hypertension after experiencing a sudden stroke. Others may have numerous symptoms despite having neither high blood pressure nor significant organ damage. Therefore, it is unreliable to judge the severity of the disease solely based on symptoms in this stage.
Late-stage hypertension symptoms mainly include: palpitations, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeat when complicated with heart failure; headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and numbness in the extremities, as well as cognitive, sensory, and motor disorders when complicated with cerebrovascular lesions; and frequent urination, nocturia, and renal failure symptoms when complicated with renal lesions.
Hypertensive crisis: sudden and severe increase in blood pressure (usually diastolic pressure > 140mmHg), severe headaches, vomiting, blurred vision, even coma and seizures.
Formidable challenge to public health
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent a formidable challenge to public health in the United States, affecting a vast number of Americans and exerting a significant strain on the nation’s healthcare system and economy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these diseases claim the lives of approximately 659,000 Americans annually, making them the leading cause of death in the country. This grim statistic translates to one in every four deaths being attributed to CVDs.
The economic impact of CVDs is equally staggering. In 2014, the total cost associated with these diseases was estimated at $219 billion, a figure that encompasses both the direct costs of healthcare services and medications, as well as indirect costs related to lost productivity. Projections indicate that by 2035, this cost could escalate to a staggering $1.1 trillion, underscoring the urgent need for effective prevention and management strategies.
Several risk factors contribute to the prevalence of CVDs. High blood pressure and high LDL cholesterol are among the key culprits, with approximately 103 million adults in the U.S. suffering from high blood pressure and about 38% of adults having elevated levels of LDL cholesterol. Additionally, smoking is a significant risk factor that exacerbates the problem.
In terms of mortality, the age-adjusted death rate for CVDs in 2019 was 167.8 deaths per 100,000 population. Ischemic heart disease and stroke are the most prevalent types of CVDs, contributing significantly to this mortality rate.
Beyond mortality, CVDs also lead to a substantial amount of disability, limiting the activities of millions of Americans each year. This multifaceted burden highlights the critical importance of addressing CVDs through comprehensive public health measures, early detection, and effective treatment strategies.
