Flexible Stuff - Article 12, Sunday, August 4, 2024
Better than blood pressure readers?
Blood pressure devices measure the force of blood against artery walls, acting as proxies for assessing heart stress. Historically, the benchmarks for "normal" blood pressure have evolved, reflecting changing medical assumptions—from arbitrary in the 1950s to 140/90 in the 1970s to 120/80 by 2017. Each adjustment has reclassified many people as "at risk" for what’s often termed the “silent killer,” even though lifestyle choices are at the base of the problems.
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Based on blood pressure readings alone, almost half the people in the US are considered "not well". Rather than promoting lifestyle changes, the government recommends medications, making cholesterol and blood pressure medications among the most prescribed of all medications. This approach means that treating blood pressure alone, regardless of underlying causes, represents big business for physician practices and hospitals. However, is this the best approach?
Since the invention of the blood pressure cuff in 1896, life expectancy in the United States has increased from approximately 47-49 years in 1900 to around 78.7 years today. This paradox raises questions. Despite 50% of the US being considered unwell today due to high blood pressure, life expectancy has steadily risen. This brings into question whether, in today's context, blood pressure readings and the medications required to achieve "good" readings should be the primary focus of healthcare, especially considering that the scale was last radically tightened only in 2017.
Blood pressure is merely an indicator of metabolic health. Prescribing medication to lower blood pressure to target levels such as 120/80 masks underlying issues and doesn't address root causes such as poor diet, lack of exercise, or harmful habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. These factors need more attention and correction.
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For instance, an alcoholic's blood pressure varies widely based on coexisting factors like obesity, lack of exercise, and smoking. Normalizing blood pressure with medication provides a superficial fix instead of addressing the underlying issues that might shorten an alcoholic's life due to liver, lung, and artery damage, cancer, diabetes, and other diseases.
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While the focus on blood pressure management has undoubtedly benefited many, it underscores a broader healthcare paradigm that prioritizes symptom management over addressing root causes.
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Should cardiologists treat patients based on blood pressure levels alone, or would it be wiser for physicians and other healthcare professionals to focus on the factors that actually cause the problems that trigger high blood pressure readings?
Promoting genuine fitness involves changing detrimental lifestyle choices directly rather than proving success by relying on medication to produce positive numbers that are manipulated by drugs, not life changes.
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Upcoming blogs . . .
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How doctors can greatly improve their healthcare services
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A review of smart devices that report "real time" details about your metabolism
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How to use a smart scale to lose weight and achieve fitness
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I post every Sunday. Feel free to contact me with questions at Karen@Littleviews.com.
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By Karen Little, August 4, 2024​​