Technology, a leading cause of hypertension among young people

Dr. Mario Benavides González, Jefe del Servicio de Cardiología del Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”

Technology es factor de hipertensión en jóvenes

Signos de hipertensión

Signos de hipertensión

A greater dependence on mobile devices, video games, and social networks, results in a drastic increase of sedentary lifestyle and anxiety among the population, these are the main causes of high blood pressure.

Approximately 30% of Mexico’s population suffers from hypertension, 95% of which are due to bad habits, many of them associated with the growing dependence on technology.

“Arteries expand and contract to ensure adequate blood flow, when blood pressure increases, it is called arterial hypertension causing damages”.

“Hypertension should not be underestimated, one in five people know they have it”, explained Mario Benavides González, chief of cardiology at Hospital Universitario “Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez”.

Hypertension is a chronic cardiovascular degenerative disease that causes more than 50 thousand deaths a year in Mexico.

“The patient goes to the doctor by chance or when it is too late and there is an irreversible damage”.

“People should have their blood pressure checked every time they go to the doctor”.

Hypertension is the most common health problem in the world. The older a person gets, they are more susceptible to hypertension. This increases with age, a 10% every ten years.

Video games. A leading cause of hypertension among young people.

Mario Benavides said that the addiction to technological devices affects the increase of cases of hypertension in infants and young people.

Lack of physical activity encourages diseases such as obesity and chronic illnesses. Children don’t play outside anymore, this also increases risk factors.

“Therefore playing video games and using social media will eventually produce anxiety. A permanent state of stress will lead into suffering from hypertension”.

During the world hypertension day which is celebrated on 17 May, the specialists says that, in 10 years time people will be suffering the consequences of the excessive use of electronic devices.

Causes associated with primary hypertension (95% of the cases):

• Heritage
• Lifestyle
• Overweight and obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• Diabetes mellitus
• Cholesterol problems
• Anxiety

Patients with elevated blood pressure will often suffer from:

• Heart attack
• Cardiac Insufficiency
• Kidney failure
• Eye problems
• Blood flow problems
• Brain hemorrhages
• Arterial problems