Did you know seven and a half million Canadians live with hypertension (high blood pressure)? That’s 1 in 4 adults! According to the World Health Organization (WHO)1, it is also the leading cause of premature deaths and disabilities worldwide.
Also called the ‘silent killer,’ hypertension shows no symptoms2 until it does significant damage. With time, it can cause heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and, in some cases, dementia. During Hypertension Awareness Month in Canada, let’s build healthier habits together and keep high blood pressure at bay.
Hypertension Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention
If you are diagnosed with hypertension, it means the blood pressure in your veins is too high. Think of it as pumping too much air in a tire. Eventually, the high pressure causes damage. Since it has no apparent symptoms, getting a blood pressure check is the only way to know if you have hypertension. The disease is more common with age and other factors.
Causes of Hypertension
Some causes of high blood pressure can be managed, while others are beyond our control. The ones you can control, thankfully with some lifestyle changes and hypertension medication, include:
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Chronic stress
- Poor diet
- Hormonal issues
- Kidney issues
- High sodium intake
Age and a family history3 are uncontrollable causes. However, a healthy lifestyle can help you manage and live with the condition and improve your quality of life.
What Blood Pressure Numbers Mean
The best way to get on top of hypertension is to understand your numbers:
- Systolic – The blood pressure when the heart contracts. It’s the top number in a blood pressure reading. A high systolic reading may indicate stiff arteries.
- Diastolic – The blood pressure when the heart relaxes between beats. High diastolic pressure may indicate blood vessels are not relaxing properly.
Hypertension is measured in mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Persistent high blood pressure can damage blood vessels.
| Category | Systolic (Top Number) | Diastolic (Bottom Number) |
| Normal | 120 mmHg or less | 80 mmHg or less |
| Elevated (High-Normal) | 121–134 mmHg | 80 mmHg or less |
| High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) | 135 mmHg or higher | 85 mmHg or higher |
| Diabetes/Kidney Disease (High) | 130 mmHg or higher | 80 mmHg or higher |
Always check with a healthcare provider for personal targets. Here’s a simple tutorial on how to measure your blood pressure4 at home using a device.
The Importance of Early Detection
Here are some reasons why detecting hypertension early is better than later when it has done considerable damage:
- Early symptom detection – Hypertension is called a ‘silent killer’ because it doesn’t show symptoms until it’s too late. Early symptoms that should concern you include nosebleeds, difficulty breathing, and frequent headaches.
- Start treatment early – Catch it early enough, and you may be able to manage the condition with hypertension medication and a few simple lifestyle changes, such as a DASH diet5.
- Reduce health costs – According to WHO6, early hypertension detection is one of the best ways to reduce healthcare costs. The earlier the detection, the lower the chances of expensive emergencies and hospital visits from complications, such as kidney and heart disease.
- Easier to check – Hypertension monitoring is noninvasive and painless. You can easily find calibrated machines in local pharmacies.
Canada is quickly becoming the global leader in the early detection of high blood pressure, including overall management and treatment.
Drop by your local Sunshine Drugs today—our pharmacy team can check your blood pressure or help you find the perfect home monitor!
References
[1] Indicator Metadata Registry Details. (n.d.). www.who.int. https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/
[2] World Health Organization. (2023, March 16). Hypertension. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension
[3] Rabi, D. M., McBrien, K. A., Sapir-Pichhadze, R., Nakhla, M., Ahmed, S. B., Dumanski, S. M., Butalia, S., Leung, A. A., Harris, K. C., Cloutier, L., Zarnke, K. B., Ruzicka, M., Hiremath, S., Feldman, R. D., Tobe, S. W., Campbell, T. S., Bacon, S. L., Nerenberg, K. A., Dresser, G. K., & Fournier, A. (2020). Hypertension Canada’s 2020 Comprehensive Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, and Treatment of Hypertension in Adults and Children. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 36(5), 596–624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2020.02.086
[4] How do I monitor my blood pressure? (n.d.). Hypertension Canada | for Healthcare Professionals. https://hypertension.ca/how-do-i-monitor-my-bp/
[5] Blood Pressure Action Plan. (n.d.). https://hypertension.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Your-Blood-Pressure-Action-Plan.pdf
[6] World Health Organization. (2023, September 19). First WHO report details devastating impact of hypertension and ways to stop it. www.who.int. https://www.who.int/news/item/19-09-2023-first-who-report-details-devastating-impact-of-hypertension-and-ways-to-stop-it