Hypertension:

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a global health concern affecting a significant portion of the adult population. This blog aims to provide an overview of essential hypertension, including its symptoms, causes, complications, and available treatments.

Prevalence and Awareness:

• It is estimated that 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 worldwide have hypertension, with two-thirds residing in low- and middle-income countries.
• Surprisingly, around 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware of their condition.
• Only 42% of adults diagnosed with hypertension receive appropriate treatment.
• Alarmingly, just 21% of individuals with hypertension have their blood pressure under control.

Overview of Hypertension:

Hypertension is defined as having blood pressure levels equal to or higher than 140/90 mmHg. Although it is a common condition, it can lead to severe complications if left untreated. Notably, individuals may not experience any noticeable symptoms, emphasizing the importance of regular blood pressure check-ups.

Risk Factors of Hypertension:

Several factors contribute to an increased risk of developing hypertension, including:

• Advancing age
• Genetic predisposition
• Overweight or obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Excessive salt consumption
• Heavy alcohol consumption

Symptoms of Hypertension:

Hypertension is often referred to as the “silent killer” due to its asymptomatic nature. However, extremely high blood pressure levels can manifest symptoms such as severe headaches, chest pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, and blurred vision. Immediate medical attention is necessary for individuals experiencing these symptoms alongside high blood pressure readings.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

Hypertension is diagnosed when repeated blood

pressure measurements show systolic readings ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic readings ≥90 mmHg. The primary focus of treatment involves lifestyle modifications and, if necessary, medication. Recommendations for managing hypertension include:

• Adopting a healthy, low-salt diet
• Weight reduction for overweight individuals
• Regular physical activity
• Smoking cessation
• Medication, if prescribed by a healthcare professional

Prevention:

Prevention plays a vital role in managing hypertension. Incorporating the following lifestyle changes can help prevent and control high blood pressure:

Increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables

• Engaging in regular physical activity, both aerobic and strength-building exercises
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Complying with prescribed medication
• Attending scheduled medical appointments

Complications:

Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to serious complications, including:

• Damage to the heart, potentially causing chest pain, heart attack, heart failure, or irregular heart rhythm.
• Increased risk of stroke due to arterial blockage or rupture in the brain.
• Kidney damage, potentially leading to kidney failure.

Conclusion:

Essential hypertension poses a significant health risk worldwide, with a substantial number of individuals remaining undiagnosed and untreated. Understanding the symptoms, risk factors, and complications associated with hypertension is crucial for effective management. By implementing lifestyle changes, seeking timely medical attention, and adhering to prescribed treatments, individuals can reduce the impact of hypertension on their overall health and well-being.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy is the leading cause of Blindness in the working age group population worldwide. The prevalence of diabetes is rising with increasing industrialization and globalization along with sedentary lifestyles. Consequently, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy is also expected to increase especially with increased life expectancies. The duration of Diabetes is the major risk factor in the development of retinopathy. Diabetic Retinopathy is the ocular manifestation of end-organ damage in Diabetes. Retinal neurodegeneration followed by microvascular abnormalities result in retinal damage. 

Only about 60% of people with diabetes are screened annually for diabetic retinopathy. There needs to be a lot more referrals to the Ophthalmologists for retinal screening.

People with type 1 diabetes should have annual screenings for diabetic retinopathy beginning 5 years after the onset of their disease, whereas those with type 2 diabetes should have a prompt screening at the time of diagnosis and mandatory yearly screenings thereafter. A dilated retinal examination along with retinal fundus photography for documentation is recommended. Patients with manifested diabetic retinopathy are monitored more frequently as required.

Women with diabetes who become pregnant should be monitored closely during their pregnancies because the disease can progress rapidly. However, an eye examination is not required when gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. 

Maintaining blood sugar, blood pressure and serum lipid levels lowers the risk of retinopathy developing and/or progressing, so patients must be informed of the importance of maintaining good levels of glycosylated haemoglobin along with normal blood pressure and blood lipid levels. It is also vital to educate patients that during early stages of the disease, the vision remains normal. It is only during the moderate and late stages of the disease that visual impairment occurs.

Management options for diabetic retinopathy includes following a healthy diet and lifestyle, medical management, timely ophthalmic evaluation, and treatment under the care of an ophthalmologist. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections are effective in the treatment of diabetic macular oedema. Laser pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) remains the mainstay treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Late stages may require vitreous surgery along with retinal endo laser at the time of surgery.

Early detection of Diabetic Retinopathy plays a pivotal role in optimizing treatment outcomes and preventing visual impairment or loss.

Discover crucial insights about diabetic retinopathy, a prevalent eye disease among individuals with diabetes, and a significant cause of blindness in adults. LLH Hospital’s ophthalmology specialists provide comprehensive information to help you understand and tackle this condition effectively. Stay informed and take control of your eye health with LLH Hospital’s expert guidance on diabetic retinopathy.