Living with High Blood Pressure

When Anil Ghosh went for the comprehensive corporate health check up five years back, he was perfectly all right with an enviable presence and a perfect BMI. But then, that had been quite a while and things had changed drastically since. He had suffered a heart attack a year later and required angioplasty to fix the freshly hit block. Subsequently, he was doing all right. He was intimidated by the whole episode so much so that he had apparently stopped smoking, no fat food for him, no late nights and no booze - these had been integral part of his business and, as a matter of fact, his life ever since he stepped into the whopping corporate world. The fact that he had normal blood pressure and a relatively good health status since his heart attack authenticated his belief. His annual consultation with the cardiologist, however, was long due and he was anxious to wind it up. It was more for the sake of accomplishing yet another assignment that was in his schedule in a fortnights' time. This would reaffirm his physical status and give a green signal, he thought.

Conversely, the cardiologist was not happy at all! Ghosh had met him briefly in a party where the doctor had complimented on his agility. This had made him complacent. The awareness that demands of a heart patient is perhaps a little more than this. He just couldn't afford to miss the BP medication but he had done that! He had missed his medicines the morning he was supposed to meet the doctor. The cardiologist, a very composed man otherwise, nearly snapped at him. How could he not take his medicines! Ghosh was prompt in his amateurish explanation, which made the doctor furious nonetheless. He explained, once he gathered composure, that hypertensive patients should take the usual dose of medicines before coming for examination. This would help in the right assessment of BP and would eventually ensure proper dose.

To add to this, Ghosh was not doing the walking bit daily and was occasionally indulging in smoking and late nights. Moreover, he had been having business lunches most of the days. The doctor assured that he was heading for disaster and no one can prevent him from getting another heartattack! And Ghosh thought that he was just doing the right thing! After all, he was punctual with medicines, did not eat much, looked relatively young and was a good sport among his colleagues!

190/100 was his BP, to be precise. The doctor categorically warned him yet again, accentuating on the irreversible effects. This time Ghosh was an intent listener and he listened without cutting him short. He never knew that once a hypertensive is always a hypertensive and he had to admit it no matter what. Most people are in self denial, they would not accept it. However, accepting and going for the right kind treatment, at the right time would be a wise move, anytime.

Anil Ghosh is not alone. All through my career in a hospital, I have come across majority who are like him. Be it the topmost custom officer or a small time cultivator - the awareness is too little and too less. Educating people, therefore, becomes the topmost priority.

Ghosh had had a good lesson that day. On his way back, he kept leafing through the points he had to remember all through his life time. He has to live with it no matter what.

1# Once a hypertensive is always a hypertensive. Sooner the people realize this, better for treatment and control. Hypertension is a leading cause of heart disease so it's advisable to keep it at bay all the time.

2# Less than 120/80 is the ideal blood pressure. Anything above this will require lifestyle modification and proper medical intervention. Appropriate treatment eliminates the life-threatening sequel of hypertension like heart failure, renal failure, paralysis, etc.

3# Treatment of hypertension calls for lifestyle modification and proper dose of medication which only a good physician can prescribe. Life style modification includes proper health regime like changing the eating and food habit and keeping a fit physical status by regular exercise and workouts.

4# The ideal diet for hypertension is low in fat, low in simple carbohydrates and low in salt food. Basically, the aim should be to eliminate sugar, sweets, butter and fast & fried food.

5# Smoking triggers hypertension by pushing up blood pressure level and heart rate by releasing adrenaline. So just quit tobacco - there is no better time than now.

6# Learning to manage stress at office and home is very important. Work schedules should be interlaced with regular periods of rest and relaxation. Taking regular breaks from work and using this quality time to rest, relax and pursue a hobby is a great thing to do. Any hobby,photography, hill trekking, painting, etc. work wonders.

Managing any disease is not a destination, it's a journey which has to be lived day in and day out, incessantly with a tolerable heart and cheerful mind.

So, guys, good luck! We all a have a long way to go, let's live it to the fullest.

Thanks.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step...Mao Zedong