It is estimated that there are approximately 43 million people with hypertension in Japan, meaning that roughly one in three Japanese people suffers from high blood pressure, making it a national disease.
High blood pressure damages blood vessels, leading to arteriosclerosis.
If left untreated, it can lead to serious, life-threatening illnesses such as stroke and heart disease in the future.
Recent research has shown that even slightly elevated blood pressure doubles the risk of stroke and heart disease.

The Current State of Hypertension

Many people are diagnosed with high blood pressure during health checkups, but it is said that only a small number actually go to the hospital.
The main reason for this is that most cases of high blood pressure are asymptomatic.
Most people would visit a hospital if they experienced symptoms such as pain or itching.
On the other hand, asymptomatic hypertension tends to be avoided.
Many people regret neglecting high blood pressure, later developing serious illnesses as a result.

What should you do if you are diagnosed with high blood pressure?

First and foremost, you must raise your own awareness of your health.
Many people ask, “Doesn’t hypertension mean I have to keep taking medication?” However, the basics of treating hypertension are “dietary therapy” and “exercise therapy.”
Even with dietary and exercise therapy, if your blood pressure cannot be managed, you may need to rely on medication.
To begin with, try incorporating “low-salt” dietary therapy, such as reducing salty foods and not drinking all the broth from soups and ramen, and “exercise therapy,” such as walking for 30 minutes or more two to three times a week.