COVID-19 and Hypertension: How Are They Related?
After months of silence, COVID-19 is back with its new variant. The number of cases is increasing with many losing their lives. The condition is getting riskier, compelling people to stay at home. Also, other things have started getting affected severely.
Majorly, the medical panelists discuss the direct impact of the pandemic i.e. what will happen if people get tested positive for the virus. Rarely, they research or discuss the indirect impact of the pandemic. Many people, even if not contracted with the virus, suffer severely. And one of them is people with blood pressure problems.
Effect of the pandemic on blood pressure:
Due to the pandemic, people are fearful about the unknown. They are stressed about future uncertainties such as financial instability, social isolation, and restriction on daily activities. As a result, their blood pressure is increasing. Many people are experiencing high blood pressure spikes without a pre-existing hypertension diagnosis.
The stress and anxiety are pushing people to take unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking, and overeating, increasing the blood pressure levels for the long term.
Another reason that is making things critical for hypertension people is gaps in preventive care. Many annual physical or optional surgeries are postponed to avoid exposure to the virus, bringing stress in life. Also, people are unable to monitor them at home as the hypertension kit isn’t available to them. And it’s because the pharmacies and retail stores are working under restrictions during the pandemic.
The most severe impact is, hypertension people are more vulnerable to the complications of the infections and have a decreased survival rate. In simple words, people with high blood pressure are at high risk of COVID-19 implications.
Ways to keep the blood pressure level under control
Take blood pressure medication– If you are already a hypertension patient, you should continue your medication without missing a day. Also, you shouldn’t make any changes in your medication dose without consulting your healthcare provider.
If it’s about new blood pressure spikes, you should speak to your primary care professional immediately. Just remember, don’t try self-medication.
Try stress management therapy– Other than medical support, you should look for therapeutic support from your primary care provider. Whenever you feel your emotions are getting out of control or notice signs of anxiety, you should accompany your medical treatment with stress management therapy.
Make changes in your lifestyle– Making changes in your lifestyle is not a matter of a day or two; it requires time. But, as it’s pandemic, you don’t have time. Therefore, you should modify your diet and physical activity and try to adapt to it as soon as possible.
Your lifestyle to reduce blood pressure should include a healthy, balanced diet with low salt, aerobic exercise daily, adequate sleep, and meditation. Other than this, you should quit smoking, tobacco, caffeine use, and alcohol consumption.
Monitor blood pressure daily- You should try to reduce the preventative care gaps by monitoring your blood pressure daily at home. With this, you can manage emergencies and take the right step at the right time.
You should get a hypertension kit for home. We recommend ordering a hypertension kit online and avoiding going to local stores for the same. Along with this, you should schedule regular checkups and screenings online.
Hypertension and pandemic are very well-related. Pandemic increases the blood pressure level and hypertension people are vulnerable to COVID-19 complications. So, you should keep the levels under control now and always.