Why Is Hypertension Considered A Lifestyle Chronic Illness?

Why is hypertension a lifestyle disease?

Hypertension is a condition characterized by high blood pressure, often caused by unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and obesity. Environmental risk factors, such as air pollution, are also significant. Non-modifiable risk factors include a family history of hypertension, age over 65, and co-existing diseases like diabetes or kidney disease. Symptoms include headaches, blurred vision, chest pain, and other issues.

Why is high blood pressure considered a harmful disease?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common condition affecting the body’s arteries. It increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious health problems if untreated. It is crucial to have blood pressure checked every two years, starting at age 18. Healthy lifestyle habits like not smoking, exercising, and eating well can help prevent and treat high blood pressure. Some people may need medication to treat the condition.

What are the reasons a disease is considered to be a lifestyle disease?

Lifestyle diseases, such as smoking, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity, are linked to the development of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and some types of cancer. These diseases were once considered “Western diseases” or “diseases of affluence” but are now recognized as non-communicable and chronic diseases, part of the degenerative diseases group.

By 2030, the proportion of total global deaths due to chronic diseases is expected to increase to 70% and the global burden of disease to 56%. The greatest increase is anticipated in the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions.

The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution in 2000 on the prevention and control of chronic diseases, calling on Member States to develop national policy frameworks, assess and monitor mortality and the proportion of sickness in an area due to chronic diseases, promote effective secondary and tertiary prevention, and develop guidelines for cost-effective screening, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic diseases, with special emphasis in developing countries.

The combination of four healthy lifestyle factors – maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, following a healthy diet, and not smoking – seems to be associated with as much as an 80% reduction in the risk of developing common and deadly chronic diseases.

However, only a small proportion of adults follow a healthy lifestyle routine, and the numbers are declining. There is very little public awareness of the association between health and lifestyle, and many are unaware that a change in lifestyle is an important factor in the emergence of chronic diseases as causes of increased morbidity and mortality. A comprehensive public health approach to tobacco control effectively inhibits the beginning of tobacco use and promotes its cessation through measures such as tax and price policy, restriction on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, packing and labelling requirements, educational campaigns, restrictions on smoking in public places, and cessation support services.

Effective public health measures are urgently needed to promote physical activity and improve health around the world. The challenge of promoting physical activity is as much the responsibility of governments as of the people, but individual action for physical activity is influenced by the environment, sports and recreational facilities, and national policy. It requires coordination among many sectors, such as health, sports, education and culture policy, media and information, transport, urban planning, local governments, and financial and economic planning.

The World Health Organization is supporting its member States by providing nationwide evidence-based advocacy on the health, social, and economic benefits of healthy lifestyles.

What are the 4 lifestyle factors that contribute to chronic disease?

Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Lifestyle risk factors, such as lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol use, can affect their development. The Tracking Network’s lifestyle risk factor data can help public health professionals determine if certain health outcomes are related to the environment or if they could also be due to lifestyle risk factors like smoking and lack of physical activity. This data can also help public health officials determine the best public health actions to reduce modifiable lifestyle risk factors in their communities.

How does hypertension affect quality of life?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause long-term damage to the body, leading to disability, poor quality of life, and even fatal heart attacks or strokes. It is typically measured in mm Hg and can be controlled through treatment and lifestyle changes. Healthy arteries are flexible, strong, and elastic, allowing blood to flow freely, providing nutrients and oxygen to vital organs and tissues.

How is hypertension classified?

The text delineates the various categories of hypertension, including normal (SBP less than 120 and DBP less than 80 mmHg), elevated (SBP 120 to 129 and DBP less than 80 mmHg), stage 1 hypertension (SBP 130 to 139 or DBP 80 to 89 mmHg), and stage 2 hypertension (SBP greater than or equal to 140 mmHg or DBP greater than 90 mmHg).

Is hypertension commonly considered to be chronic?

Hypertension is a chronic medical condition characterized by persistent elevation in arterial pressure, often leading to stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and renal failure. The definition and categories of hypertension have evolved over time, but it is generally agreed that persistent blood pressure readings of 140/90 mm Hg or more should be treated with a therapeutic target of 130/80 mm Hg or less.

This activity discusses the etiology, presentation, evaluation, and management of essential hypertension, as well as the role of the interprofessional team in evaluating, diagnosing, and managing the condition.

It also discusses the criteria for normotensive, pre-hypertensive, and hypertensive blood pressure, as well as the pathophysiology of essential hypertension and its effects on organ systems throughout the body.

Why are chronic diseases categorized as lifestyle diseases?

Chronic diseases, or noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), are often developed in middle age due to unhealthy lifestyles, including tobacco use, lack of physical activity, and fast food consumption. These lifestyles lead to higher risk factors like hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and obesity, which are often undiagnosed or inadequately managed in health services. Chronic conditions are often considered to have limited impact on disease burden in Sub-Saharan Africa, but they occur more commonly in younger age groups and are equally common in the poor sector of society. The current burden of chronic diseases reflects the cumulative effects of unhealthy lifestyles and risk factors over a person’s life, with some influences present before birth.

What is the classification of chronic hypertension?

Chronic hypertension is a condition that can either precede pregnancy, be diagnosed within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, or not resolve by the 12-week postpartum checkup. It complicates about 5 of all pregnancies and is increasing due to delayed childbearing. Antihypertensive medications should be reviewed when pregnancy is first diagnosed, as evidence is mixed on whether these actions improve outcomes. Methyldopa is the most studied antihypertensive medication, but alternative options like labetalol, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics are being used more frequently.

Most studies have not found adverse pregnancy outcomes, but caution should be exercised in cases of impaired uteroplacental perfusion, such as preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction. Atenolol and other pure beta-blockers should be avoided due to their association with babies born small for their gestational age. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are contraindicated in the second and third trimester due to congenital anomalies. Patients presenting in the first trimester on an ACE inhibitor should either be taken off antihypertensive medications or switched to another agent.

Chronic hypertension accounts for a disproportionate amount of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, mostly due to an increased risk of superimposed preeclampsia. Complication rates are directly related to the severity and duration of elevated blood pressures. All hypertensive patients should undergo increased surveillance, serial laboratory tests throughout pregnancy, serial ultrasound scans to follow growth, and antenatal testing. The baby should be delivered vaginally if possible.

Why is hypertension considered a chronic disease?

Chronic hypertension is a condition where blood pressure spikes due to stress or other factors, such as pregnancy. It is an ongoing condition with no cure, but medications and lifestyle adjustments can help control it. It is crucial to work closely with a doctor and adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle to prevent severe complications. Blood pressure is expressed by two numbers: systolic pressure (top number) and diastolic pressure (bottom number), measured in millimeters of mercury (Hg).