High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is one of the most common health problems in the world.
It often develops quietly, without clear symptoms, but over time it can cause serious damage to the body. If it is not well controlled, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and even early death.
New research from the University of Gothenburg has raised concerns that many people with high blood pressure are not receiving enough treatment. This is an important issue because hypertension is one of the leading causes of illness worldwide.
In Sweden, more than one in four adults has high blood pressure. This shows how widespread the condition is, and why it needs careful attention. Even though treatments are available, many people still do not reach healthy blood pressure levels.
To better understand how blood pressure affects health, researchers from the University of Gothenburg carried out several studies. Their goal was to find out what blood pressure levels are safest and how poor control may increase the risk of serious diseases.
In one study, the researchers focused on older adults who had high blood pressure but had never had a heart attack or stroke before. This allowed them to see how blood pressure levels alone affected future risk.
The results were very clear. People whose systolic blood pressure, which is the top number in a blood pressure reading, was below 130 mmHg had a much lower risk of heart attacks and strokes. In fact, their risk was about 40 percent lower compared to those whose blood pressure was in the range of 130 to 139 mmHg.
During the study period, 5.2 percent of people in the higher group experienced a heart attack or stroke. In comparison, only 3.4 percent of those with lower blood pressure had such events. This study included more than 5,000 participants, which makes the findings strong and reliable.
Another study from the same research team looked at people with atrial fibrillation, a common heart condition that causes an irregular heartbeat. These patients were taking blood-thinning medicines to reduce the risk of stroke.
The researchers wanted to understand how blood pressure affects the risk of a specific type of stroke called hemorrhagic stroke, which happens when there is bleeding in the brain.
They found that people with higher blood pressure had a much greater risk. Those with systolic blood pressure between 140 and 179 mmHg had about twice the risk of hemorrhagic stroke compared to those with blood pressure between 130 and 139 mmHg.
In numbers, 1.4 percent of people in the higher blood pressure group had a hemorrhagic stroke, while only 0.7 percent in the lower group experienced this problem. This shows that even moderate increases in blood pressure can make a big difference to health risks.
A third and even larger study looked at over 259,000 patients. This study showed that treatment for high blood pressure is often not good enough. Many people did not have their blood pressure under control, and they also had other risk factors such as high cholesterol or smoking.
In fact, nine out of ten patients had at least one major risk factor that increased their chance of heart attack or stroke. This suggests that many cases of serious illness and early death could be prevented with better care.
The researchers believe that many people could benefit from stronger and more careful treatment. This may include adjusting medications, lowering cholesterol, and helping people stop smoking.
Lifestyle changes are also very important. Eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, and avoiding smoking can all help lower blood pressure and improve overall health.
This research was led by Johan-Emil Bager and his team, and the findings were published in journals including Brain and Behavior. Their work highlights the need for better awareness and treatment of high blood pressure.
For people living with hypertension, the message is clear. It is important to monitor blood pressure regularly and follow medical advice. Even small improvements in blood pressure can reduce the risk of serious health problems.
As more research continues, doctors may develop better ways to treat hypertension and prevent its complications. With proper care and healthy habits, many lives could be saved.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that may increase high blood pressure risk, and drinking green tea could help lower blood pressure.
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about what to eat or to avoid for high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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