The silent disease that many people have without knowing it: it can appear without warning
Some diseases can develop for years without causing any obvious symptoms. For this reason, they are often known as “silent diseases ,” since many people are unaware they have them until a medical check-up or a complication reveals their presence.
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One of the most frequent is high blood pressure , a condition that affects millions of people worldwide and that, without proper control, can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney damage.
Why is it called a silent disease?High blood pressure often doesn’t cause symptoms in its early stages. A person can have elevated blood pressure for years without feeling any discomfort.
In some cases, when blood pressure reaches very high levels, severe headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, or chest pain may occur. However, many people remain completely asymptomatic, so the only way to detect it is by measuring blood pressure.
Factors that increase the risk
There are several factors that can contribute to the development of hypertension, including:
- Advanced age.
- Family history.
- Overweight or obesity.
- Excessive salt consumption.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Smoking.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Chronic stress.
Although some factors cannot be changed, adopting healthy habits can help reduce risk and improve blood pressure control.
How to prevent and control hypertensionExperts recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle to protect cardiovascular health:
- Measure your blood pressure regularly.
- Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Reduce your consumption of salt and ultra-processed foods.
- Engage in regular physical activity.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol consumption.
- Follow the treatment prescribed by the doctor if a diagnosis of hypertension has already been made.
These measures can significantly contribute to reducing the risk of complications.
Precautions
High blood pressure often doesn’t cause symptoms until complications arise, so you shouldn’t wait until you feel unwell to have your blood pressure checked. Regular checkups are essential, especially after age 40 or if you have risk factors.
If you experience very high blood pressure readings accompanied by severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, vision changes, weakness on one side of the body, or difficulty speaking, seek emergency medical attention, as these could be signs of a hypertensive emergency or stroke.
If you experience very high blood pressure readings accompanied by severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, vision changes, weakness on one side of the body, or difficulty speaking, seek emergency medical attention, as these could be signs of a hypertensive emergency or stroke.