Tunis, Universnews (Health) – High blood pressure (HTA) is the first chronic disease worldwide and one of the main vascular risk factors. Effective management of HTA decreases the risk of cardiovascular complications and contributes to the extension of life expectancy. The constant progression of high blood pressure is a consequence of a lifestyle which evolves towards a diet too rich in fat and salt, with a decrease in physical activity. Once detected, it is treated very well, with treatments without any particular complications.
But whenever we diagnose hypertension, the patient’s first question often comes up: “Should I take treatment for life?” Dr Faouzi Addad, cardiologist, believes that “the announcement of a chronic disease like HTA is already difficult to accept. Adding to it a potentially life medication makes the situation even more complex. In the majority of cases, yes, treatment will be long -term, especially if hypertension is severe, there is damage to noble organs (heart, kidneys, brain). It is associated with diabetes, coronary disease, stroke, or in case of advanced age with arterial rigidity. But there is hope.
If hypertension is light to moderate, linked to overweight, too salty diet, a lack of physical activity, stress or insufficient sleep, then, an improvement in lifestyle could allow a gradual stop or even a strict medical supervision. I often say to my patients: “It depends more on you than your doctor because you do not cure hypertension, but it is controlled. It would ultimately be the reward for your efforts. But what matters most is regular follow -up. Hypertension is a silent disease that can cause, even with small prolonged tension elevations, significant long -term damage (such as dementia for example). And there it would be necessary to take your tension regularly, to respect your follow -up consultations, to target the discipline of life as much as the drugs ”. (Ms)