In France, nearly 17 million adults are hypertensive, or around 1 in 3 adults. But nearly 6 million are still unaware of it, because too many people still don’t know how to spot it. And for good reason. Sometimes, nothing implies it.
Waiting until you have symptoms is too risky a bet
According to many cardiologists, one of the most common mistakes regarding blood pressure is to believe that you will have noticeable symptoms if you are affected. This is false. And this is why the disease is called the silent killer.
Because in reality, the absence of symptoms is absolutely not synonymous with the absence of danger.
“High blood pressure is often asymptomatic, making it a “silent killer”: most patients do not experience any signs on a daily basis, even with persistently high blood pressure.”insists Dr Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical.
In other words, you can live for years with excessively high blood pressure without ever realizing it or worrying.
The signs appear… too late
Many people think that headaches, dizziness or palpitations are necessarily warning signs of high blood pressure. But these symptoms only occur, in the majority of cases, in extreme situations.
“Symptoms appear only in the event of an acute hypertensive crisis (BP > 180/120 mmHg), such as intense headache, dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain or nausea. These signs are not specific and occur rarely; ignoring this absence of symptoms is the classic error which delays the diagnosis”specifies the emergency doctor.
Clearly, waiting to “feel something” means taking a major risk for your cardiovascular health.
The only reliable way to know
Faced with this discreet disease, there is only one truly effective reflex: measure your blood pressure regularly.
“The only reliable way to detect high blood pressure is to measure your blood pressure regularly, at home or with a doctor,” recalls Dr. Gérald Kierzek. For this, he recommends the use of a validated arm blood pressure monitor, more reliable than those on the wrist, with particular vigilance if the figures exceed 135/85 mmHg at home or 140/90 mmHg in consultation, and this over several measures.
“Some people need to be even more careful. Age over 50, being overweight, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, family history, diabetes or sleep apnea are some of the major risk factors to watch out for.”
Prevent rather than suffer
In practice, experts recommend a systematic annual check-up from the age of 40 to 50, or even earlier in the case of risk factors. Regular self-measurement, morning and evening, also makes it possible to identify a possible increase in blood pressure.
“In the event of unusual symptoms such as throbbing morning headaches or ringing in the ears, you should measure your blood pressure immediately and seek medical advice.”adds Dr. Gérald Kierzek.
But prevention doesn’t stop at simply checking the numbers. A healthy lifestyle plays a central role in regulating blood pressure: salt reduction (less than 5 g per day), regular physical activity, quality sleep, stress management and a balanced diet are essential levers.
A vital risk too often underestimated
The real danger of hypertension lies in its long-term consequences, which are often silent but serious. Untreated, it gradually damages the arteries and vital organs.
As a reminder, high blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. Hence the importance of early detection and regular medical monitoring.
Ignoring your tension means letting an invisible but potentially fatal illness evolve. Conversely, monitoring it regularly allows you to act early, adapt your lifestyle and, if necessary, implement effective treatment to avoid serious complications.
Invisible, silent, progressive, hypertension does not prevent before causing lasting damage to the heart, brain or kidneys. A simple, regular check of blood pressure can make all the difference. Monitoring your figures today means avoiding irreversible consequences tomorrow.