“Our Cardiology service offers several tests for the diagnosis of arterial hypertension such as: electrocardiogram, stress test, echocardiogram, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), among others. According to statistics from the Peruvian Society of Cardiology, one in four adult Peruvians is hypertensive, and half of them are not aware it because 80% of these patients do not present symptoms”, says Dr. Percy Robles, cardiologist of our clinic.

What is hypertension?

It is a pathological condition associated with increased pressure or tension within our arteries.

Who is most at risk for hypertension?

The prevalence in older adults is 60%, however, there is an increasing increase in younger people with genetic predisposition and sedentary lifestyles.

The vast majority of patients have no symptoms; however, they may present:

Headache, ringing in the ears, palpitations, blurred vision, and fatigue.

What blood pressure values indicate hypertension?

Hypertension is considered to be systolic blood pressure values greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure values greater than or equal to 90 mmHg.

What complications can high blood pressure cause?

Complications at the renal (renal failure), cardiac (coronary disease), neurological (hemorrhage – cerebral ischemia), ophthalmological (retinopathy) and peripheral arterial (vascular insufficiency) levels. Therefore, it is essential to take actions to avoid these complications that can compromise not only our health but also put our lives at risk.

Dr. Percy Robles
Cardiologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma