Medicus, Vol. 10 No. 1_Moždani udar, 2001.
Review article
Hypertension and Stroke
Zvonko Rumboldt
Abstract
Elevated blood pressure increases the risk
of stroke several times, proportionally to the pressure level.
The condition is important for public health because of its
high prevalence (there are over 500,000 hypertensives in
Croatia) and its simple, successful and rather inexpensive
management. Indeed, appropriate antihypertensive treatment
reduces the incidence of all strokes by more than 40 per cent,
and after 3-5 years of adequate therapy the high risk decreases
to an average level for general population. Unfortunately,
hypertension mostly proceeds undetected and undertreated.
In acute stroke, on the other hand, antihypertensives are prescribed
too often, too early, and in excessive dosage, as in a
vain attempt at repairing the undone at the right time. Arterial
hypertension should be treated after a stroke or TIA as well,
but the results are less favorable: the risk of recurrent stroke
is decreased by some 20-30 per cent. In addition to pharmacotherapy,
essential general measures (particularly smoking
cessation, weight reduction, physical activity) and the control
of additional risk factors should be implemented, in order to
improve the overall quality and quantity of life, instead of just
treating the elevated column of mercury!
Keywords
hypertension; stroke; treatment
Hrčak ID:
19229
URI
Publication date:
26.1.2001.
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