SPECIAL ISSUE: HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
WORDS - Alexandra Werner, MD

Oftentimes when I talk to my patients about their hypertension, I  get the sense that they feel  they’ve failed. They blame themselves by saying things like, “I should’ve eaten less salt,” or “I need to exercise more.” But hypertension isn’t a personal failure. Yes, diet and exercise can help you manage your hypertension, but sometimes changing those factors alone is not enough. Studies estimate that 30-50% of hypertension in an individual is explained by our genes, something we have no control over. 

I often use my mom as an example. Though she is uber healthy and exercises regularly, she still developed hypertension at age 55. Cutting down on her salt intake so much that she can no longer tolerate a Lay’s potato chip helped some, but not enough. Fortunately, starting medication has helped her normalise her blood pressure levels. My maternal grandmother also developed hypertension in her 40s or 50s, and there is a good chance I may too, no matter what I do. 

Hypertension does not have to be seen as a personal failing. Nor does it have to be an all encompassing illness; we can work with our healthcare providers to keep hypertension under control through adjustments to diet and exercise, annual checkups, or medication. And if our numbers still go up, we should try not to be too hard on ourselves. A medical condition is not a personal failure, high blood pressure included.