The key facts
- Hypertension may cause no complaints for years while damaging blood vessels and raising the risk of stroke
- Headache and weakness do not allow one to judge blood pressure — tonometer measurements are needed
- According to Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death among Russians
How you feel is not an indicator
High blood pressure may cause no complaints for years, while the disease gradually damages blood vessels and increases the risk of stroke. This was reported by endocrinologist Yulia Stadnikova in an interview with Vechernyaya Moskva. According to her, feeling well does not rule out hypertension, so you cannot rely on how you feel.
How to monitor blood pressure
Headache, weakness or dizziness do not allow one to reliably judge blood pressure — measurements with a tonometer are needed. The doctor recommended that adults check their readings at least once a year. Monitoring is especially important after age 40, with excess weight, constant stress, and a family history of heart attacks or strokes.
One measurement is not enough
A single measurement is sometimes not enough for a diagnosis: in some people blood pressure rises only in the doctor's office, in others — at home. A diary of home measurements or 24-hour monitoring can help sort this out. If elevated readings recur, you should see a specialist even without any complaints.
Context: the scale of the problem
Earlier, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said that cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death among Russians. He stressed that medical care should cover not only heart attacks and strokes but also other circulatory disorders. Against this backdrop, recommendations for regular blood pressure measurement apply to a wide audience, not only to those who have already noticed symptoms.
