Stress and sedentary lifestyle raise awareness of hypertension in increasingly younger people

Hypertension, a cardiovascular risk factor that can develop into serious illnesses, such as heart attack and stroke, provides a warning to young people on its national prevention date, April 26th.

Although less common in this age group, the disease in people between 30 and 40 years old is on the rise. “Some of the main reasons for this phenomenon are the increasingly intense and demanding work routine, where young people are always connected and available, associated with a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits, which cause higher levels of vascular tension, influencing the blood distribution of the body”, explains Roberto A. Vasques Jr., Cardiology coordinator at Hospital São Luiz Jabaquara.

According to the expert, in order not to reach old age with hypertension, something common to 65% of elderly people, younger people must anticipate and act preventively, including functional, healthy and proactive actions to improve their bodily, psychological and spiritual well-being.

“Low-fat diets, such as Mediterranean, vegetarian/vegan, Nordic, as well as a low intake of carbohydrates and sodium, will bring long-term benefits. Mental support, from psychologists/psychotherapists, and even spiritual support, is equally recommended. All of this will promote a healthier and more balanced routine on these busy days”, he analyzes.

In Brazil, according to the Mortality Information System (SIM) of the Ministry of Health, the number of hypertensive patients has been expanding in the last decade. In 2021, 39,964 deaths from the disease were recorded, 72% higher than in 2011, with 23,233 deaths from high blood pressure.

“We can say that Brazil is experiencing an epidemiological transition of high blood pressure. The interpretation of the numbers suggests that the next generations will suffer from a substantial increase in the prevalence of hypertensive patients and their complications, as a direct reflection of current bad habits”, warns Vasques.

Another aggravating factor is the fact that high blood pressure is asymptomatic, as less than 10% of sufferers experience symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, palpitations, headaches and changes in vision. This characteristic of the disease highlights the essential role of routine exams for early diagnosis, which is essential to initiate appropriate treatment before other complications arise.

“It is important that the patient is up to date with their exams, but also maintains care for their own health. Actions such as practicing sports and physical activities, controlling weight, not smoking, drinking alcohol sparingly and controlling diabetes complement the key to not having arterial problems in youth and, consequently, in maturity”, concludes the São Luiz Jabaquara professional.

Located in the south of São Paulo, the Rede D’Or hospital has a Cardiovascular Outpatient Clinic and a highly specialized team. The service has a modern and diverse technology park, ready to carry out consultations, exams and surgeries, in addition to a complete emergency room focused on preventive care for the heart and arteries.

What is blood pressure?

Characterized by a sustained increase above 140×90 mmHg (millimeter of mercury) in pressure levels in the arteries (main channels through which blood is distributed), hypertension is a unique case in medicine, diagnosed by a mathematical measure of ratio/proportion , found in simple arm contraction checks.

The first number refers to the maximum or systolic pressure, which corresponds to the contraction of the heart. The second has to do with the strength of the diastole movement, when the heart relaxes and spreads new blood into the flow.

The condition can be primary, when genetic and determined by family history, or secondary, resulting from other comorbidities, such as kidney issues, thyroid issues, diabetes, stress and high cholesterol.