Early studies surveying people with the novel coronavirus disease found that up to 30 per cent of them had hypertension, according to a report by The Lancet. So, how are hypertension and the risk of coronavirus related?

“High blood pressure in itself does not cause an increased susceptibility to coronavirus. But from what we have seen so far, about one-fourth to half of the COVID-19 patients who had to be admitted had high blood pressure, among other ailments,” Dr Nishith Chandra, cardiology, director-interventional cardiology, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute,

He said, “It has been seen that a lot of patients of COVID-19 are asymptomatic or show minor symptoms, and get better. A person with high blood pressure or other heart diseases, who is exposed to the virus, however, is more likely to require hospitalisation or even ventilation, as opposed to infected patients without blood pressure.”

Any comorbidity or existing medical condition like diabetes or heart disease may result in a more severe impact of the virus on the body due to a weaker immune system. Those who have high blood pressure and are already on medication may have compromised immunity. Again, elderly people with coronary heart disease or high blood pressure are more susceptible to the virus.

That said, people with high blood pressure should not be paranoid. “Hypertension is a very common condition, with nearly 30-40 per cent of the adult population in India suffering from it. The good news is hypertension can be easily controlled. One should ideally strictly control blood pressure during the pandemic,” the doctor advised. Here are some ways to do it.

How to control blood pressure

1. Adhere to a good lifestyle; follow a healthy diet and keep yourself physically active by exercising.

2. Avoid excess salt in your food.

3. Eat fruits and vegetables that are rich in potassium like spinach, broccoli, apricots, raisins and dates.

4. Drink three to four litres of water daily to remain hydrated.

5. Limit the consumption of alcohol and caffeine to keep your blood pressure levels in check.

6. If you are unable to control blood pressure, consult your doctor without delay.

Do blood pressure medicines increase COVID-19 risk?

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine stated that blood pressure medicines do not put you at more risk of contracting the virus. Besides, on March 17, 2020, the American Heart Association, Heart Failure Society of America and the American College of Cardiology issued a joint statement to confirm that one should not stop taking the prescribed medicines for blood pressure. “These medications don’t increase your risk of contracting COVID-19. They are vital to maintaining your blood pressure levels to reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and worsening heart disease,” the guidelines read.

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New Delhi: Heart diseases are one of the leading causes of death all around the world. A recent study also showed that women are at a higher risk of heart diseases, as compared to men. Women go through various changes in their body, especially during and after pregnancy. Gestational diabetes, which is described as high blood sugar during pregnancy, which goes back to normal levels after the delivery of the baby is a common condition that pregnant women suffer from. High blood pressure is also pretty common in pregnant women. 

A recent study has shown that blood pressure rises more quickly in women than in men. According to the study, this is because women’s blood vessels age more quickly. Apart from these factors, pregnancy can also lead to hypertension. 

Hypertension when expecting a baby – All you need to know

Hypertension during pregnancy can increase the risk for both the mother and the baby. It can cause problems even after delivery of the baby. Therefore, it is important to prevent and treat the condition at the earliest.

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, it was found that hypertension during pregnancy is experienced by 1 in every 12-17 women, of the age 20 to 44.

What are the causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy?

The first measure to prevent a condition is to understand its causes and risk factors. Factors like obesity, lack of physical activity, smoking, drinking, or autoimmune disorders like type 1 diabetes can be contributing causes of hypertension during pregnancy. Other factors include age, multiple babies, first-time pregnancy, assistive reproductive technology, or family history of hypertension can also contribute as a risk factor. 

How can high blood pressure be prevented during pregnancy?

For the prevention of high blood pressure during pregnancy, it is important to get the right treatment for blood pressure problems before you get pregnant. If you are planning to have a baby and have high blood pressure, you must consult your doctor for treatment. Even after getting pregnant, it is important to continue treatment during and after the pregnancy as well. 

Apart from treatment, regular exercise or physical activity that ensures a healthy weight can help in preventing high blood pressure before and during pregnancy. During pregnancy, you must keep a check on your blood pressure regularly, and consult your doctor for medicines for the condition, which will not interfere with the baby and its development.

What complications can occur due to high blood pressure during pregnancy?

Hypertension can cause various complications for the mother and the baby, both during and after the pregnancy. The mother can be at a high risk of stroke, kidney damage, and seizures. The mother may also be in need of labour induction, due to high blood pressure. 

For the baby, high BP can lead to preterm birth, which comes with its own set of complications and risks. Low birth weight is also common in babies born to mothers with high blood pressure. The mother’s high BP makes it difficult for the baby to get enough oxygen and nutrients, and the baby may need to be delivered early.

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High blood pressure or hypertension can negatively affect your health in various ways. It is also known as a silent killer as it can majorly increase the risk of heart diseases. But high blood pressure can be controlled with some simple precautions. You can make changes in your diet and lifestyle to control blood pressure naturally. Some foods and drinks can help in controlling blood pressure naturally. Similarly, a recent study has revealed that long-term consumption of lingonberry juice lowers high blood pressure and improves the functions of blood vessels.

The study explains that at some point in life, many people develop elevated blood pressure, even hypertension and functional disturbances in blood vessels related to low-grade inflammation. In addition to drug therapies, nutrition has a key role in the management of these disorders. Studies have shown that polyphenol-rich food reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Lingonberry, bilberry, cranberry and blackcurrant are excellent sources of polyphenols. “Lingonberry juice is no substitute for medication, but it is a good dietary supplement,” said researcher Anne Kivimaki from University of Helsinki in Finland.

Both lingonberry and cranberry are part of the Vaccinium family of plants, just like bilberries blueberries and huckleberries. In her doctoral thesis, Kivimaki investigated the cardiovascular effects of cold-pressed lingonberry juice, cranberry juice and blackcurrant juice as drinking fluid for 8-10 weeks on genetically hypertensive rats (SHR).

Diluted lingonberry juice significantly lowered high blood pressure while juice that contained more polyphenols improved impaired blood vessel function to the level of healthy vessels, the results showed.

The juice did not prevent the age-related elevation of blood pressure typical to the hypertensive animal strain. Lingonberry juice prevented the expression of genes associated with low-grade inflammation in the aorta. The effect of other berry juices was less marked, showed the findings.

Underlying the effect is probably the reduction of low-grade inflammation as well as mechanisms related to the renin-angiotensin system, a central regulator of blood pressure, and the availability of nitric oxide, a local endothelial vasodilating factor, said the study.

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Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. It is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is constantly elevated. Those who suffer from hypertension are easily prone to severe health complications. High blood pressure can cause blood vessel damage, followed by increasing the risk of heart diseases. Hypertension is sometimes called ‘the silent killer’ because it shows no symptoms and sometimes goes unnoticed and untreated for years. However, maintaining a proper diet for high blood pressure can prevent such issues. One just needs to follow healthy eating habits.

Food to avoid for hypertension

1. Salt

Salt and sodium are villains when it comes to living with high blood pressure and heart diseases. Sodium is significantly known to raise blood pressure. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests that people with high blood pressure should limit sodium intake to just 1,500 milligrams. Even a small reduction of sodium in your diet can increase your heart health and reduce blood pressure by around 5-6 mm Hg. The effect of sodium intake on blood pressure varies among varied groups of people. Ideally, the amount of sodium intake per day for people with hypertension should be 1,500 mg or less.

2. Caffeine

Food items such as coffee, tea, cola, and energy drinks contain a high amount of caffeine. Consuming these foods can cause short-term spikes in blood pressure. A review of five trials found that drinking up to 2 cups of strong coffee can increase both systolic and diastolic blood pressure within 3 hours after consumption. However, these findings do not suggest that coffee increases blood pressure or the risk of cardiovascular disease in the long term.

3. Chicken skin and canned soups

People with high blood pressure should avoid saturated food and trans fats. Chicken skin, full-fat dairy, red meat, and butter are some food items that are highly saturated and contain a high amount of trans fat. Also, the biggest contributors to trans fats are processed and canned food items. Canned soups or bottled tomato products are proved to be bad for people suffering from hypertension.

4. Frozen pizza and pickles

All pizzas can be a poor choice for people watching their sodium intake. The combination of cheese, tomato sauce, cured meat, and crust adds up to a lot of sodium. To maintain flavour in the pizza once it is cooked, manufacturers often add a lot of salt to it. We know that preserving any food requires salt, as it stops food from decaying. Thus, the intake of pickles is a bad option for victims of hypertension.

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Obesity can put an individual at a higher risk of multiple diseases. Unhealthy weight is the reason behind many deadly diseases. It can increase the risk of heart diseases, diabetes, stroke, liver diseases and many other medical issues. Maintaining a healthy weight is extremely necessary to keep the risk of multiple health issues at bay. Not just these diseases, a recent study has highlighted that obesity can increase the risk of many cancers as well. Researchers have found that being overweight before the age of 40 could increase the risk of various cancers in adults.

For the findings, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, the research team wanted to find out how adult overweight (BMI over 25) and obesity (BMI over 30) increase the risk of different types of cancer. The researchers used data collected from 2,20,000 individuals. Data from health examinations, including information on height and weight, were linked to data from national cancer registries.

“Obesity is an established risk factor for several cancers. In this study, we have focused on the degree, timing and duration of overweight and obesity in relation to cancer risk,” said study author Tone Bjorge, Professor at University of Bergen in Norway.

According to the researchers, 27,881 individuals were diagnosed with cancer during follow-up, of which 9,761 (35 percent) were obesity-related. The study concluded that if you were overweight before age 40, the risk of developing cancer increases by 70 percent for endometrial cancer, 58 percent for male renal-cell cancer, 29 percent for male colon cancer and 15 percent for all obesity-related cancers (both in males and females).

“The risk increased by 64 percent for male participants and 48 percent for females,” Bjorge added.

Weight Loss Tips: Ways to fight obesity

You need to reduce body fat and fight obesity to stay healthy. If you are suffering from obesity you need an action plan to fight obesity and lose weight. Healthy habits should be developed from a young age to avoid the risk of obesity for a lifetime. Here are some ways to tackle obesity effectively. These methods can contribute to weight loss.

1. Avoid the triggers

You need to understand the factors which can contribute to obesity. Some lifestyle habits can unknowingly affect your weight and lead to obesity. To maintain a healthy BMI follow healthy habits from the initial stage itself.

2. Keep a check on your weight

Keep checking your weight with time. Whenever you see a disturbance in your BMI, switch to healthy habits which can help you reduce weight before it becomes worse. Starting early can help you control the condition on time.

3. Exercise and diet is the key

Regular exercise and a restricted diet is the key to maintain a healthy weight. You need to make exercise as a compulsory part of your daily routine to avoid obesity for a lifetime. Choose healthy calories which do not contribute to obesity.

4. Know how to differentiate between foods

You must also know the difference between the foods good for you and which are not. Choose good fats over bad ones and make healthy choices in your daily diet.

5. Eliminate sugar

Sugar is hidden in many foods. Too much consumption of foods high in sugar can increase the risk of obesity. Not just direct sources, you must also eliminate indirect sources like packed fruit juice, cookies and many more.

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