Is high blood pressure a silent epidemic? Should we be monitoring blood pressure in a different way?
I know what you’re thinking…just what we need! Another epidemic! We already have COVID, obesity and opioids. Well, some people think high blood pressure is also an epidemic, albeit one happening silently. And they think we should be monitoring blood pressure in a different way than most are doing now.
In a recent episode of Causes or Cures, I chatted with Dr. Jay Shah about why he believes that high blood pressure is a silent epidemic affecting millions of people. Dr. Shah will first describe what blood pressure is and how we currently measure it, what high blood pressure is, and why he believes we are experiencing a silent epidemic of high blood pressure. He will also make the case for why we should be continually monitoring blood pressure versus traditional methods of monitoring blood pressure, such as periodic visits to a healthcare provider or taking measurements at home with a blood pressure cuff. He’ll explain the technology he is currently working with to do this. Finally, he’ll also offer a few lifestyle tips for improving cardiac health.
I thought this was an interesting podcast, because when I go to the doctor, I find that my blood pressure is high in the clinic, but when I go home, it’s low. That happens to a few other people I know, but the phenomenon is common enough to be called “white coat syndrome”, essentially meaning that your blood pressure goes up in the doctor’s office due to anxiety. Experiences like that made me consider more optimal ways to measure blood pressure.
Who is Dr. Shah?
He is a cardiologist who trained at Massachusetts General Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. He founded and built the cardiovascular services at The Portland Clinic and served as the medical director of the Aortic Disease Program at The Mayo Clinic. He currently serves as the medical director for Aktiia.
You can listen to the episode here!
https://youtu.be/JOS0KPAlrqs
In addition to this episode on monitoring blood pressure, definitely check out some of the other episodes. I’ve been recording A LOT in the last month, and hope you all will find at least one of the podcast topics interesting.
Listen to MAID: Medical Assitance in Dying, Tough Decisions & Ethical Concerns, with Dr. Madeline Li
Check out how Cursing can help manage pain and boost physical performance, with Dr. Nick Washmuth