Moldova sees surge in youth high blood pressure
Annually, over 30,000 new cases of high blood pressure are diagnosed in the Republic of Moldova. The condition is one of the main causes of serious health problems, such as strokes, heart attacks, and kidney diseases.
According to experts, many people are diagnosed too late, and high blood pressure cases are steadily rising, increasingly affecting young people.
60-year-old Iurie Popovici suffered a heart attack seven years ago. Because he did not complete the recommended treatment, his health has worsened over the past two years.
I was working in construction, it was tough work, and within two days I felt unwell. I was abroad, I came home and saw a doctor. My treatment was only pills. I follow a diet, especially because my blood sugar is also high, and I do light exercise.
Galina Țurcan, a medical assistant, has had high blood pressure for 18 years. She says she strictly adheres to her prescribed medication.
I went to the doctor and started with pills, and took them as prescribed. At first I took one pill, then I moved to more.
The risk factors for high blood pressure are age, heredity, and an unhealthy diet. Additionally, men are more likely to develop this condition than women.
"Unfortunately, high blood pressure is steadily increasing. In the Republic of Moldova, we have 600,000 patients diagnosed with high blood pressure. In recent years, we've been diagnosing high blood pressure in patients as young as 25, who have a genetic predisposition or secondary high blood pressure, meaning that it has an underlying cause," mentioned cardiologist Maria Cociu.
To prevent high blood pressure, doctors recommend a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy body weight, and getting regular physical exercise.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
