Letters

• Don't worry, be happy

Dear Dr Abel,

I have just completed reading your article on being happy, and I must say it was very inspiring. I most certainly will be using all of your suggestions in my personal and professional life. Thank you for this article.

Regards,

Andrea

• The silent killer

Dear Dr Williams-Green,

Thank you for your article on hypertension on January 12. I am a 38-year-old woman who first discovered that I had hypertension at age 30 with readings of 150/110 and higher. I believed that it was due to my previous job which was particularly stressful. I took medication which brought the readings back to a normal range (130/80). After leaving the job, I stopped taking the medication and the readings remained normal without medication. However, they have gone up again, but my present job, although hectic, is not as stressful as the previous one (actually it is great fun).

My mother and grandmother had high blood pressure, but during their pregnancies. As I apparently now have it, is it genetic, even though outside of pregnancy? (I am not pregnant). And, is it normal for the pressure to start early (in my case in my early 30s and perhaps before that?) Thank you kindly.

- R. B.

Response

Dear Madam,

Thank you for an interesting description of how hypertension presented in your case. However, it is quite common for hypertension to present in the third decade of life. You were especially blessed to have regained normal blood pressure values after ceasing medication, while reducing your stress. You clearly manifest the genetic factors since your mother and grandmother also have hypertension. So, it is not surprising that your high levels of blood pressure have returned.

You did not mention whether you made lifestyle changes such as reduction in dietary salt, increased physical activity, and weight loss (if you are fat or overweight). These factors are also important in the return of your elevated blood pressure. It is also common for women who have high blood pressure during pregnancy to continue with high blood pressure after the pregnancy or present with hypertension in the future. Thanks for your feedback!

- Dr-Pauline Williams-Green

Send questions and comments to our health specialists at Your Health, c/o The Gleaner, 7 North Street, Kingston; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.