Hypertension is known as a "silent killer", because the disease often progresses silently but can damage many organs in the body. Experts recommend that effective blood pressure control not only helps stabilize health but also reduces the risk of a series of dangerous diseases.
Dr. Sun Ningling, Head of Hypertension Department, Peking University People's Hospital, said that prolonged high blood pressure can damage target organs such as the heart, brain and kidneys. If not controlled, patients are at high risk of stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure and many other serious complications.
One of the most common complications of high blood pressure is stroke. High blood pressure puts great pressure on the brain blood vessel walls for a long time, increasing the risk of blood vessel blockage or rupture. Maintaining blood pressure at the target level helps significantly reduce the risk of stroke.
Blood pressure control also contributes to preventing cardiovascular disease. When blood pressure is always high, the heart must work harder to pump blood, gradually leading to cardiomyomegaly, coronary artery disease or heart failure. According to experts, treating high blood pressure early helps reduce the burden on the heart and limit cardiovascular events.
In addition, the kidneys are also a major organ affected. Prolonged high blood pressure can damage small blood vessels in the kidneys, causing proteinuria, impairing kidney function and increasing the risk of chronic kidney failure. Good blood pressure control is one of the important measures to protect kidney function.
In addition to the heart and kidneys, stable blood pressure also contributes to protecting brain health. Some studies show that effective blood pressure control can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.
Experts recommend that everyone should measure blood pressure periodically, maintain a low-salt diet, increase green vegetables and fruits, exercise regularly, maintain a reasonable weight, limit alcohol and follow treatment if hypertension has been diagnosed. According to Xinhua, good blood pressure management not only helps prevent stroke but also protects the heart, brain and kidneys, thereby reducing the risk of disability and death from cardiovascular diseases.
