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Jalandhar, 17 May, 2026: Most people associate a heart attack with a sudden, dramatic event. What receives far less attention is the years of quiet damage that precede it. Often functioning without any symptoms, hypertension works silently, putting additional pressure on the arteries. Over the years, that sustained pressure quietly restructures the heart in ways that can prove fatal. In India, this is not a distant risk. According to data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), roughly 24% of adult men and 21% of adult women live with hypertension. The numbers tell a story of a condition hiding in plain sight.
On the occasion of World Hypertension Day, Dr VP Sharma, Director and Senior Consultant Cardiology, Fortis Hospital Jalandhar shared expert insight on hypertension, risks of developing cardiac-health issues, symptoms, and treatment.
What Hypertension Does to the Heart
Blood pressure is simply the force blood exerts against artery walls as the heart pumps. Normal blood pressure sits below 120/80 mm Hg. Hypertension is defined as readings that consistently reach or exceed 130/80 mm Hg. In response, the heart pumps harder to push blood through the arteries. This heightens the risk of developing various cardiac-related issues, including:
• Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: The most direct cardiac consequence of this is left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), in which the walls of the heart’s main pumping chamber become thickened. LVH is an important independent risk factor for diastolic heart failure and sudden cardiac death in hypertensive patients.
• Arterial Stiffness: Prolonged high blood pressure also contributes to arterial stiffness, which is the loss of elasticity of the large blood vessels. This diminishes their capacity to absorb the pressure wave generated by each heartbeat.
• Atrial Fibrillation: An irregular heart rhythm that can put you at risk for stroke and other complications.
Symptoms to Watch Out For
Hypertension often shows no symptoms, earning it the title “silent killer”. However, very high blood pressure, often exceeding 180/120 mm Hg, can show possible symptoms like:
● Shortness of breath (Dyspnoea)
● Dizziness
● Blurred or tunnel vision
● Nose bleeds (Epistaxis)
● Confusion
How to Manage Hypertension
● Reduce common salt intake in your diet, as sodium can heighten blood pressure
● Add vegetables like spinach, broccoli and carrots to your meals
● Fruits like strawberries, raspberries and blueberries contain antioxidants that can reduce inflammation in the inner lining of the blood vessels
● Adding daily options like bananas, oranges, and avocados to your diet can provide potassium to help offset sodium’s effect
● Avoid consuming tobacco products as they are direct contributors to high blood pressure
● Limit alcohol consumption as it can raise blood pressure and worsen cardiovascular risks
● Maintain regular physical activity and try to lose weight
Regularly monitoring your blood pressure and making these lifestyle and dietary changes can significantly reduce the risks of developing cardiac issues.
