Officegoers At Risk Of Hypertension Doctor Reveals Why High Blood Pressure Is A Silent Disease

Speaking to HT Lifestyle, Dr Murtaza S. Bagwala, head of emergency medical services at Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, shared that cases of hypertension, or high blood pressure, are being reported among officegoers.

“High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is one of the most prevalent worries that have come out of this lifestyle pattern. Many working men and women may already be under the radar for hypertension, doctors caution,” he said.

The doctor then alerted that hypertension is also called a silent disease, implying that it is dangerous as it shows no obvious, noticeable symptoms. Most ailments present some kind of bodily signs that prompt people to seek medical help. But in the case of hypertension, the signs show up in the body when the damage may have already surpassed the early stages, keeping the afflicted in the dark for long time.

And even if any signs do show up, they are often confused with common lifestyle problems like stress or sleep deprivation.

“People often attribute headaches, tiredness, dizziness, lack of sleep, irritability, a feeling of ‘heaviness' in the head and shortness of breath to work stress or exhaustion. In some instances, however, these symptoms can be signs of increasing blood pressure,” Dr Bagwala explained.

The worst part is that hypertension signs become prominent only when it starts causing problems in important organs. The doctor named organs like the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes, suggesting the extent of untreated hypertension.

Some of the biggest factors the doctor outlined include stress, which he deemed to be the biggest contributor. Apart from this, sedentary habits like sitting for long periods, an unbalanced diet, limited physical activity, irregular meals, excess caffeine, smoking, poor sleep, less recovery time, and too much screen time can all lead to hypertension at a younger age.

Even if there are no prominent signs to identify it, Dr Bagwala advised, "It's important to make a habit of health checks for working adults, particularly those over 30 and those who have other risk factors like obesity, diabetes, smoking, a family history of hypertension and chronic stress.” Other than this, he advised lifestyle changes for better prevention and management, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, stress management, drinking plenty of water and regular blood pressure monitoring.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.