Herzwochen heart under pressure

This year's focus of the Herzwochen hypertension

06/11/2011

As part of this year's Herzwochen of the German Heart Foundation, numerous events have been held throughout Germany since the beginning of November on hypertension and its effects on the risk of stroke.

Until the end of the month, experts at various congresses, conferences and other events will inform about the health risks of untreated high blood pressure (hypertension). The connection with the occurrence of around 250,000 strokes per year is one of the focal points of this year's Herzwochen.

The German Heart Foundation has the motto for the Herzwochen in allusion to the focus on hypertension this year „Heart under pressure“ At the current events, the main focus is on the health risks of untreated high blood pressure and prevention options. For example, a free lecture afternoon organized jointly by the German Heart Foundation, the AOK NordWest and the St. Martinus Hospital in Olpe (South Westphalia) is dedicated to the dangers of untreated high blood pressure. Since high blood pressure for those affected initially associated with relatively unremarkable symptoms such as light, headache, hot flashes, heart pains and similar nonspecific symptoms, the early stage hypertension often remain untreated for too long, so the statement of the German Heart Foundation.

The health consequences of untreated high blood pressure are long-term catastrophic, according to the experts. For example, those affected often go to the doctor only when, due to the high blood pressure already other serious health problems such as heart stunts or cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure or blindness occur. According to the German Heart Foundation have in Germany „Between 18 and 35 million people have high blood pressure.“ Not only old people but also younger population groups are increasingly affected. About ten million sufferers, the experts say the disease is unaware. Bernhard Schwaab of the Department of Cardiology of the Klinik Höhenried and member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Heart Foundation emphasized that each „at the latest from the 40th year of life“ should have his blood pressure checked annually preventively. In addition, appropriate preventive care for patients who were „Cardiovascular diseases or high blood pressure already from the family know, from the age of 30 years“ to recommend. (Fp)

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