High blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) means the force of blood against the walls of the arteries is too high — usually 140/90 or above on repeated checks. It is very common among adults in Afghanistan, and many people do not know they have it because it usually causes no symptoms. Untreated, it damages the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes and is a main cause of stroke and heart attack. With lifestyle changes and regular medicine it can be well controlled.
Symptoms
- Usually no symptoms — the only way to know is to measure your blood pressure
- Headache, often at the back of the head in the morning, when pressure is very high
- Dizziness
- Nosebleeds
- Blurred vision
- Chest pain or shortness of breath when pressure is very high
Causes
- Too much salt in food
- Being overweight and little physical activity
- Smoking and naswar
- Stress
- Family history and older age
- Diabetes and kidney disease
- Some medicines, such as painkillers (NSAIDs) and some contraceptive pills
Prevention
- Use less salt in cooking and eat fewer salty foods, pickles and salty snacks
- Eat more vegetables, fruit, lentils and beans
- Keep a healthy weight
- Walk or be active for 30 minutes on most days
- Stop smoking and naswar
- Check your blood pressure at least once a year after the age of 40
Treatment
- Lifestyle changes: less salt, healthy weight, regular activity, no smoking
- Blood pressure medicines prescribed by a doctor, taken every day even when you feel well
- Regular blood pressure checks at home or at a clinic
- Do not stop your medicine when the reading is normal — that means it is working
- Regular checks of kidneys, blood sugar and cholesterol
- Do not start or stop prescription medicines without a doctor
Common questions
I feel fine. Do I still need to take my blood pressure tablets?
Yes. High blood pressure usually causes no symptoms, but it still damages the heart, brain and kidneys. The tablets protect you only while you keep taking them every day.
How much salt is too much?
Adults should eat less than one level teaspoon (about 5 g) of salt a day in total, including the salt already in bread, pickles and other foods. Use iodised salt, but use less of it.