Listen to your body

Often, people forget the most easily identifiable symptoms because they do not think they represent a sign that something is wrong. Frequently get up at night to urinate – a disease known as nocturia, for example, can be one of the most innocuous symptoms of hypertension. However, about 25% of patients with nocturia symptoms do not mention it before their doctor asks them, mainly because most of them do not even know it is one of the signs of hypertension.

Dr. A. Sai Ravishanker, Senior Intervention Cardiologist at Continental Hospitals, explains, "People suffer for more than six months at a time and only those who are organized in an organized manner and where routine examinations are performed are detected. Although urination at night is one of the symptoms of high blood pressure, there are other reasons, which is why patients should be properly evaluated. "

Other common reasons to urinate frequently at night are:

• Urinary tract infection or bladder infection
• Diabetes
• Enlargement of the prostate
• Overactive bladder
• Tumors of the bladder or prostate
• Anxiety or swelling of the lower legs or body by retaining excess fluid
• Cardiac or hepatic insufficiency
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's
• Compression of the spinal cord

Recent studies by the Society of Cardiology of India revealed that about 140 million people in India currently suffer from hypertension, this number may increase by 214 million in the next 10 years.

According to clinical data, nocturia increased with age and increased rapidly in men and women. In the elderly population, nocturia is more common in women than in men. "Salt intake that exceeds the ability of the kidneys to excrete salt accumulated in the body can trigger health problems. The cardiovascular system is extremely vulnerable to the detrimental effects of excessive salt intake. The abuse of dietary salt affects the heart, blood vessels and kidneys. Some people can actually excrete a high salt intake with no increase in blood pressure (called "salt-sensitive"), while others can not excrete effectively without increasing blood pressure (called "salt-insensitive"). ").

Daily intake of salt:

• The average daily salt intake was 10.98 grams per day for Indians over the age of 19, but it was reduced to 5 grams per day, as recommended by the World Health Organization.
• Salt consumption is higher in the southern and eastern states of India. Sodium is naturally found in foods, but much of it is added during processing and preparation. The Indian market therefore has a lot of hidden salt, making it even more important to reduce it.

Foods rich in sodium:

• Smoked, salted or canned meat, fish, poultry and sausages, smoked
• Frozen breaded meats and dinners, such as burritos and pizzas
• Canned dishes, such as ravioli, spam and chili
• Salt nuts
• Canned beans with added salt
• Buttermilk
• Regular and melted cheese
• Bread and rolls, sandwiches
• Quick breads, flour, biscuits, pancakes and waffle mixes
• Pizza and crackers
• Pre-packaged and prepared preparations for potatoes, rice, pasta and stuffing
• Canned vegetables and vegetable juices
• Olives, gherkins, sauerkraut and other pickled vegetables
• Commercially prepared pasta and tomato sauces and salsa
• Cup of noodles
• Pickles

Diagnosis and treatment of hypertension:

• Early diagnosis of hypertension – stage before hypertension – the patient may not need medication. They may require a change in their lifestyle, such as a low-salt diet – DASH diet – eat more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products, less saturated and total fat, quit smoking, and do more. Exercise regularly.
• Hypertension – Each 20 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure or 10 mm hg decrease in diastolic blood pressure significantly reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events.
• Good blood pressure management is important to reduce coronary heart disease by 41%, stroke by 25%, cardiac failure by 26%, deaths by 37% and deaths by 35%.
• For the diagnosis to be correct, it is important that blood pressure measurements are taken at different times of the day. Readings should also be taken for 10 to 15 days in a row.
• A single reading is not a measure of high blood pressure. The different readings should be done at home, at work and also after physical exercise if the person is a fitness enthusiast.
• Regular medication is essential once the disease is confirmed and should not be ignored even if the results are normal.
• In addition to medications, salt reduction, high-fat foods and the avoidance of highly processed foods, light exercise is recommended for walking and light workouts.

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