High Blood Pressure Increases the Risk of Hospitalization or Death Due to COVID-19

One of the leading causes of death among the elderly is high blood pressure. This population is also at an increased risk of acquiring COVID and its more severe manifestations. So, it stands to reason that there is a statistical connection between the two illnesses. But does this imply that those with hypertension are more likely to get a severe case of COVID? Relatively lately, evidence has accumulated to prove the affirmative.

It is recommended that people with hypertension take special precautions to avoid infection during the current coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. If you have hypertension, you may be at a higher risk of developing serious diseases and dying from COVID-19.

Patients admitted to the hospital almost universally share the common previous condition of high blood pressure. It has been estimated that the likelihood of becoming sick or dying from COVID is about doubled in hypertensive patients. Cancer, diabetes, and lung disease are other examples of serious illnesses.

What's the Connection?

It is unclear why patients with hypertension are at a greater risk of contracting coronavirus. One potential area of investigation is the link between hypertension and the immune system. When you've got a chronic illness or are getting up there in years, your immune system isn't in tip-top shape to fend off viruses. There is a significant increase in the prevalence of hypertension in those over the age of 60.

It is also possible that the increased risk is not caused by hypertension but by the medicines used to treat it, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).

Studies that show that these drugs weaken the immune system back up this idea in some ways. Contrary to these results, however, other large-scale studies have not found any links between the use of these medicines and how bad COVID-19 is. Still, other studies have shown that they might make COVID-19 less harmful. There is also no evidence to show that patients get better faster when they stop using.

There is some evidence that stopping these medicines could make heart and kidney problems worse. Hence, there is also a higher chance for a person to die. You must keep taking your medicine as prescribed to keep your blood pressure in check. If you do nothing, you may be more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, which could put you in the hospital when coronavirus cases are reported.

How does the Coronavirus Affect High blood pressure Patients?

Most people who get this virus have pneumonia, but heart problems are another common reason. High blood pressure damages the arteries, less blood can reach the heart. Your heart must work harder to keep up with the extra blood flow. This extra stress could eventually make it so that your heart can't pump enough oxygen-rich blood through your body.

Coronavirus can hurt the heart directly, which is especially bad for people with heart problems like high blood pressure. Myocarditis is caused by a virus that inflames the heart muscle. Plaque buildup in the arteries makes it more likely that someone will have a heart attack, which the virus may make worse. Researchers have found in the past that people with heart disease who get a respiratory infection like the flu or an older type of coronavirus are more likely to have a heart attack.

What do you need to do?

Everyone should take preventive measures to avoid getting the coronavirus. People with high blood pressure or other health problems should be especially careful. Please consider the suggestions below −

• Check the vaccine database to ensure you're up to date on your shots. Then, get vaccinated against COVID-19 with one of the approved vaccines.

• Always have medicine for high blood pressure and other medications.

• Stock up on over-the-counter medicines if you want to be ready to treat fever and other signs of sickness.

• The best thing you can do is not leave your house and interact with others as little as possible.

• Keep away from big groups of people and people who look sick. You should wear a face mask inside if you live where transmission is high or significant.

• Make it a habit to wash your hands with soap and warm water daily.

• Surfaces that get a lot of use, like worktops and door handles, should be cleaned and disinfected often.

High Systolic Blood Pressure Increases COVID-19 Risk

Although hypertension appears to be one of the most prevalent in persons with COVID-19, it is unclear if this is connected to systolic blood pressure or even the type of blood pressure medication a person takes. If a person's systolic blood pressure was over 150 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure was over 90 mm Hg, they were at an elevated risk of developing COVID-19.

The incidence of severe COVID-19 was 91% greater in persons with a systolic blood pressure of 150 to 159 mmHg than those with a normal blood pressure level (120-129/80-89 mmHg). In severe cases of COVID-19, an elevated risk wasn't seen until the blood pressure was beyond 150 mmHg.

Moreover, researchers could not find any correlation between the type of hypertension medication someone was using and an increased risk of hospitalization or mortality due to COVID-19.

Conclusion

Hypertension, or abnormally high blood pressure, is a common complication in those with COVID-19. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is the most prevalent severe consequence of COVID-19 and the most common condition found in people with COVID-19.

Although there is an association between COVID-19 and arterial hypertension, this does not prove a direct link or indicate an increased risk of severe disease. Considering that hypertension is more prevalent among the elderly and that this demographic is also at the greatest risk of contracting COVID and developing severe illness with additional consequences, the two conditions have a natural and understandable link.

It is now shown that hypertension affects the prognosis of COVID-19, while it is unclear whether some hypertension therapies promote or inhibit disease progression. Moreover, recent research suggests that antihypertensive medications should be continued to control arterial pressure adequately.