In the first unit of the course Disease, we studied body disease but more specifically the different types of cancer that we can get in our body. We also studied the body systems that we have and how diseases can effect those parts either it's cancer or other diseases. For our action project, we chose a disease that someone that we know has and then interview them. I chose hypertension because my three of my family member has it. I chose to interview one of the that is really close to me, so I can understand what she is going through. Throughout this project I learned so much from my mom and how it affects her. I had difficulties in drawing my person and the parts where the disease affected her.
Hilda
Hilda is in her 30’s and has two children. She was diagnosed with Hypertension two years ago but she does not know how long she has had it. The first symptoms that she had without knowing was that her sensible eyes would her so much with the light and that let to having terrible headaches most of the time, along with nausea. One day she was feeling so bad that she went to the doctor and the doctor told her she had Hypertension (High Blood Pressure).
It is still a question today weather Hilda got Hypertension genetically because her mother and grandmother have Hypertension too. Although the doctor hasn't told her it genetically the pattern of it being is clear. The family history is very clear that most likely is genetic saying that both of her children or one of them might have the possibility of having hypertension.
After Hilda’s diagnoses more of her symptoms started to kick in. She kept getting headaches, she would get dizzy, nausea, her eyes kept hurting, few times she would have chest pain and she doesn't feel like doing anything because her body is tired or her brain is too focused on the pain that does not allow her to feel energized .
He life has changed a lot since she got diagnose of hypertension. She realized that this disease is a silent killer sickness and that she has to be very careful with it. Now she appreciates and enjoys her life and family more. The first thing she did in order to adapt to her new life with hypertension. She learned how to manage her stress, she wont worry for things she can not change and she changed her lifestyle.
Unfortunately hypertension doesn’t have a cure. Hilda haves to live with it for the rest of her life, but she can do something about it. She can control her High Blood Pressure, she can eat more healthier foods and by that she can lose weight. She can also control her stress at work and in her personal life. Hilda does not take medication, according to her “ At the moment I am not taking any medication because once you start taking it, it’ll be for the rest of my life and that’s what happened with my mother.” Hilda lives with her struggles to keep her pressure under control because she prefers to live like that than to count on medication that may cause some side effects.
Hypertension
Hypertension can occur anywhere and to anyone it just depends on where you life, your gender and your race. For example, a study conducted by Dr. Levine shows that there is a 46% risk of hypertension occurring black women than in black men. Also Birmingham, Alabama has a higher risk of hypertension than Chicago, Minneapolis, and Oakland, California because Birmingham has a higher 20-year incidence of hypertension by 33.6 % while Chicago has 23.4%, Minneapolis has 19% and Oakland has 27.4%.
Hypertension is caused smoking, having too much salt in the diet, the lack of physical activity, stress, older age, genetics, chronic kidney disease, too much alcohol consumption, being overweight or obese, adrenal and thyroid disorders.
The symptoms that people should look out for are severe headaches, vision problems, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, irregular heartbeat, blood in the urine, and fatigue or confusion. A crisis of hypertension can lead to a heart attack or stroke and if untreated it can lead to serious diseases, including stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and eye problems.
Hypertension starts off in the
cardiovascular system. The heart t is the first to organ to have problem then moves into the arteries. This disease can cause coronary artery disease, enlarged heart and heart failure. Healthy arteries are strong, elastic, flexible and the inner lining is smooth so that blood flows to organs and tissues to give nutrients and oxygen. With hypertension there is too much pressure of blood flowing and it cause problem such as aneurysm, artery damage and narrowing.
With damaged arteries the
nervous system is affected, specifically your brain because your brain depends on the blood to work properly. High blood pressure can cause severe problem such as transient ischemic attack, strokes, dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
Also by having injured blood vessels going to your kidneys, which this is part of your
endocrine system. It damages them and can cause kidney failure, kidney scarring, and kidney artery aneurysm.
As you can see hypertension may seem like it is not a big deal but it is because it affects important parts of your body that can lead you to serious consequences. If not treated this disease is not only damage your heart but also your brain and kidneys because they are all connected.
Jody Charnow. “
Geography, Race, Gender Affect Hypertension Risk.” Renal and Urology News. N.p. Web. Feb 13, 2015.
