HYPERTENSION: #1 COMORBIDITY RESULTING IN DEATH FROM CORONAVIRUS

From the ongoing cases related to COVID-19, it has been found that those who suffer from multiple related diseases (3,4 to be exact), are more susceptible to infection and death. The most represented pre-existing health condition is hypertension (74.6%), followed by ischemic heart disease (70.4%), and diabetes mellitus (33.8%).

Since hypertension is a serious clinical condition that significantly worsens other health issues not related to the Coronavirus, such as with the heart, brain, and/or kidneys, one of the objectives promoted by the World Health Organization for non-communicable diseases is to reduce the prevalence of hypertension by 25% by 2025 compared to 2010.

There are various modifiable risk factors to avoid or reduce hypertension, such as body weight; nutrition therefore plays a fundamental role, not only to maintain an adequate weight, but because poor eating habits and behavior can increase blood pressure. In particular, an excessive consumption of salt, a diet rich in saturated and trans fats (present mainly in foods of animal origin such as meat, sausages and packaged products), as well as a low intake of fruit and vegetables can lead to hypertension. Other risk factors include physical inactivity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.

Non-modifiable risk factors can be attributed to family history, especially for those who are over 65 and have diabetes or kidney disease.

Practical recommendations

• do not exceed 5 grams of salt per day;
• for more flavor, use aromatic herbs such as rosemary, oregano, sage, bay leaf, or with onion and garlic (which also has anti-hypertensive effects);
• eat seasonal vegetables with every meal, alternating raw and cooked;
• eat one seasonal fruit a day;
• practice physical activity (there are also proposals for training at home online);
• avoid smoking (including second-hand smoke)
• reduce alcohol consumption (one glass of wine or a small beer per day for women, and double for men);
• limit the intake of foods rich in saturated fats, such as red meat, sausages and dairy products;
• eliminate or reduce trans fats (mainly present in packaged products such as crisps and junk food) from your diet.

What to do?

Try to reduce and manage mental stress. It can be useful to do yoga or meditation lessons, choosing from various sources on YouTube. Monitor your blood pressure regularly, even simply with readily available and inexpensive devices.

If your blood pressure remains high after several measurements, we recommend that you contact your doctor and follow the advice given in this article even more closely.

SOURCES:

1. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension
2. https://www.fondazionevalterlongo.org/malattie-cardiovascolari/?lang=it
3. La Dieta della Longevità, Vallardi, 2016.