A worrying new study has found that a growing percentage of Americans have uncontrolled high blood pressure, further evidence that the nation is losing ground in the fight against heart disease. Hypertension, often referred to as the “silent killer,” is also one of the main risks of serious illness from COVID-19.
A data analysis of more than 18,000 patients with high blood pressure found that the proportion of those with irregular hypertension increased by 10 per cent in 2017-18 compared to 2013-18, according to a report released on Wednesday in JAMA.
“These were conclusive findings,” said Paul Montner, dean of research pathology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. “I was amazed. But at the same time there were signs that we saw this align with the data.”
An earlier study found that many patients did not prescribe blood pressure-lowering drugs as directed. Many people who had uncontrolled hypertension were treated with a single drug rather than a combination of drugs, which may be more effective in lowering blood pressure, Mantner said.
To get a closer look at how well hypertension is being called in America, Mantner and colleagues traveled to the U.S. Turned to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHNAS), which has been collecting health data every two years for the past two decades.
Researchers believe that hypertension is under control if:
- The systolic measurement (peak number) is 140 mm Hg. Was less than.
- Diastolic measurements (bottom number) were less than 90 mm Hg.
Those figures are lower than so-called in recent guidelines, which say people should aim for 130 out of 80.
Of the 18,262 adults diagnosed with hypertension, the proportion of blood pressure under control increased from 31.8 percent in 1999-2000 to 48.5 percent in 2007-08 and remained stable for many years. In 2013-14, the incidence of controlled hypertension increased to 53.8 percent.
U.S. In our health is getting worse.
Since then, the proportion of Americans under blood pressure control has dropped sharply in 2017-18 to just 43.7 percent. When researchers revived their data using new guidelines of 130/80 mm Hg, they found that only 19 percent of Americans with hypertension controlled their blood pressure.
One of the biggest factors related to whether there was blood pressure control was whether a person had seen a healthcare provider in the past year: those who did not have it were five times more likely to have blood pressure control.
More than 100 million Americans have high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. Uncontrolled hypertension is the only significant risk factor for cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke, experts said. It is more dangerous because when the patient has high blood pressure uncontrollably, Covid-19 becomes fatal or leads to serious complications.
Since being diagnosed with hypertension 10 years ago, Jonathan Taylor of New York City maintained his blood pressure through medication and exercise. But there were some fluctuations due to epidemic stress. Taylor, a 60-year-old tennis professional, had no idea his condition would put him at risk when he first developed the COVID-19 in March.
“I’m generally healthy,” Taylor said. “I feel younger than others because I’ve always been healthy.”
Initially, his blood pressure was up and down and he felt weak and light-headed. After that, he developed chest pains, body aches, headaches and very low levels of fever. Several days later, he realized he was in trouble and called an ambulance. He was eventually hospitalized for about 11 days and on oxygen.
“Boy, this kind of thing was shining on me,” Taylor said. “It’s really scary because, overall, I was in very good health. And then getting sick so quickly.”
Taylor is now at home, conscious of her blood pressure medication and more health than ever.
“It’s been a long time coming, but I’m doing very well,” he said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that people with high blood pressure who are not infected with coronavirus are three times more likely to be hospitalized if they do not have high blood pressure. And a study published in JAMA in April found that, along with diabetes and obesity, hypertension was the biggest predictor of death from severe disease and covid-19.
“We know that Covid-19 increases the risk of complications from cardiovascular risk factors,” said Dr. Luke Luffin, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “So controlling hypertension is very important.”
People need to have their blood pressure checked at least once a year and many patients are avoiding hospital and doctor’s office fees, because of the fear of COVD-19, this number could get worse.
“Over the last three years there has been a great deal of pressure, especially for people to monitor blood pressure at home,” Laughin said. “Checking your blood pressure just for that, especially with people with hypertension, is not so good. [doctor’s] Office
New findings Similar to other recent studies showing that losing ground against heart disease is similar, says Dr. A.S.
“This new data is consistent with the reversal of our benefits in fighting cardiovascular disease,” Muldun said. “Heart disease, cardiovascular events and mortality stopped going down and started going up. So we are losing ground. “
Dr. Erin Mikos, a cardiologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said the new data is based on U.S. data. There is an additional parallel between obesity and diabetes.
Machos, high blood pressure and diabetes are associated with a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, Mikos said. “Our health is getting worse in the US,” he said.
