The Hidden Dangers of High Blood Pressure: A Tragic Tale of Unawareness and Neglect in Vietnam
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious condition that can lead to serious complications if left untreated. A 20-year-old male in Ho Chi Minh City learned this the hard way when he experienced difficulty breathing and sought medical attention. Upon checking his blood pressure at the hospital, it was found to be 160/90 mmHg. Dr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, a prominent figure in the field of veinology, criticized the patient for not properly managing his type 1 diabetes and advised him on the risks of untreated diabetes leading to high blood pressure and potential heart failure.
Another young man, aged 23, experienced symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, numb tongue, and blurred vision. He discovered that his blood pressure was alarmingly high, sometimes reaching 220 mmHg. Despite being advised to seek hospitalization for further evaluation, the man hesitated and ended up with stage 5 kidney failure, necessitating dialysis or a transplant.
A 30-year-old male patient arrived at People’s Hospital 115 with a severe hemorrhage in his brain, resulting in a coma and high blood pressure. His family was unaware of his condition prior to this incident. High blood pressure is often called a “silent killer” as it may not present obvious symptoms. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.5 billion people worldwide have hypertension, with a significant number of them unaware of their condition.
In Vietnam, over 12 million people have hypertension
