World Hypertension Day: What Having High Blood Pressure Means
Happy World Hypertension Day! In order to help raise awareness about this dangerous condition, Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU) Neurologist Dr. Brian Lu talks us through what hypertension is and what its place is in the modern world.
The 20th century was an era of many changes in China. It saw the fall of the Qing dynasty, the rise of the Communist party, the establishment of the Republic of China, and the growth of the Chinese middle class. While the 20th century brought war, poverty, and starvation to China, it ended with a period of peace and prosperity. But, as we have seen in many countries in the 21st century, increasing wealth often goes hand in hand with expanding waistlines. The new lifestyles we now enjoy mean that most people are eating more and moving less than their grandparents did, meaning that diseases like hypertension are the new norm for our generation.
What is hypertension?
When your blood pumps through your body, it puts pressure on the walls of your blood vessels. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is when the pressure exerted on your blood vessels is very high. It’s measured by comparing the pressure on your blood vessels when your heart is beating (systolic pressure) with the pressure on your blood vessels between heartbeats (diastolic pressure).
Who’s more likely to have hypertension?
“High blood pressure is associated with many bad habits, such as a high salt intake, insomnia, sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, obesity, insufficient exercise, and too much stress,” says Dr. Lu. “Therefore," he continues, "before starting drug treatment, patients should improve their habits and do more aerobic exercise. If blood pressure remains high, medication can be used.”
Is hypertension a problem in China?
“In China, the absolute and relative counts of hypertension patients are considerable,” says Dr. Lu. “In adults older than 18 years old, the prevalence rate is 25.2% – that’s a total of 270 million people.” This is an issue because hypertension, if left untreated, can lead to stroke and heart disease. So deadly is hypertension that it has now become one of the leading causes of death in China. “Overall,” explains Dr. Lu, “71% of deaths from stroke can be attributed to hypertension.”
How do you know if you have hypertension?
Often, when you go for a clinical appointment at BJU, your nurse will give you a vital signs checkup to measure your heart rate and blood pressure. This checkup will show if you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or an unusual heart rate. If you are worried that you might have hypertension, you can make an appointment to get your blood pressure checked and talk to your doctor.
What can I do if I have hypertension?
As Dr. Lu mentioned before, the first course of action is to try and modify any lifestyle-related factors that could be contributing to your hypertension. If that doesn't work, there are medications you can take. However, Dr. Lu warns that these aren't a perfect solution. “If you are suffering from hypertension or are suspected of having high blood pressure, especially if you have had a stroke, please consult an experienced specialist,” he advises.
If you are concerned about hypertension or your risk of stroke, you can make an appointment with BJU’s new Neurologist, Dr. Brian Lu by calling the BJU Service Center at 4008-919191. He speaks English and Mandarin.
Dr. Lu received his medical degree from Capital Medical University in 1995. In 2001, he received his doctorate from Peking University. Dr. Lu completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Beijing Medical University Third Hospital in 1998, where he rotated through inpatient and outpatient wards and developed expertise in managing conditions ranging from cerebrovascular disease to chronic diseases.
Before joining Beijing United Family Hospital, Dr. Lu served in the department of Neurology at Peking University Third Hospital as an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of headache, vertigo, Kennedy’s disease (KD), motor neuron disease (MND), and other neurological complications.
Dr. Lu has 20 years of clinical experience. In addition to specializing in the treatment and diagnosis of motor neuron disease (MND), he has also completed a fellowship in Neurology at the third clinical medical school of Peking University. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Lu has published more than 40 papers in prominent medical journals, including the Chinese Journal of Neurology.
Dr. Lu is board-certified by the neurological branch of the Chinese Medical Association and is an active member of the neurological branches of many medical associations, including the Chinese Medical Association, the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, the Beijing Medical Association, the Beijing Neurology Association, and others.
Dr. Lu speaks Mandarin and English.
Want to learn how to stave off diabetes? More here.
Keen to avoid STDs? Learn all about it here.
Curious about what all that Beijing smog is doing to your body? We dug deeper here.