Hypertension a growing threat

This figure is on the rise, with further studies conducted by the University of California showing there is a close link to elevated stress levels – particularly in the working environment – and the development of hypertension. The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, looked at data on 2400 men and women over a 20 year period. About 25% of these people developed high blood pressure.

For men, it was found that unemployment, job insecurity and inadequacy in their job performance were all linked to at least a 50% greater risk of high blood pressure. According to Graham Anderson, Principal Officer of Profmed, it is vitally important for people to regularly undergo blood pressure screenings, especially if they have genetic predispositions to the disease or are performing in stressful environments.

“Hypertension is a silent killer and often people live with it for years without treatment. Though the symptoms are not immediately visible, living with prolonged periods of hypertension can result in damage to the body, resulting in people developing other diseases which could leave them with a disability, a poor quality of life or even suffering a fatal heart attack or stroke,” explains Anderson.

These complications are as a result of the fact that hypertension can lead to the damage of the arteries, the heart, the brain, kidneys and eyes. If people do not undergo annual or more regular screenings, they often only realise they have been living with hypertension after suffering a stroke, aneurysm, heart attack or having to lose a limb as a result of narrowing of arteries.

Furthermore, Anderson says the increase in the compromising of immune systems among professionals is impacting not only on lower productivity in the workplace, but also increasing the levels of stress in the working environments, as healthier people have to work harder to compensate for their colleagues.