COVID-19 infection increases the risk of developing high blood pressure – Jornal Estado de Minas

Known as the “silent enemy”, hypertension causes damage to the body without showing signs or symptoms at the beginning. Maintaining a healthy routine, regular appointments and exams are part of the combination of how to avoid developing the disease, but a recent study found that there is a significant association with increased blood pressure in people infected with COVID-19.

According to research published by Revista Hypertension, from the American Heart Association, more than 45 thousand people with COVID-19 and another 14 thousand with common flu were analyzed, reaching a result of a 32% chance of those infected by SARS-CoV-2 develop hypertension, compared to 20% of those diagnosed with influenza.

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“There are many studies that show the consequences of COVID-19 for the heart, such as cardiac arrhythmia, thrombosis and heart attack. Hypertension is just one of the many that we continue to discover, day after day. However, the increase in blood pressure may also be related to psychosocial stress, weight gain due to lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating, caused by isolation”, explains Celso Amodeo, cardiologist and nephrologist specializing in high blood pressure at Hcor.

Hypertension affects the heart, kidneys and brain

Hypertension mainly affects the heart, kidneys and brain, causing structural damage that culminates in ischemic diseases, heart and/or kidney failure and stroke. “Generally, people with a family history are more likely to develop the disease, but in this study, individuals with no history were those who presented the most, along with people with pre-existing comorbidities and over 40 years of age”, reports the doctor.

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Amodeo further explains that, as studies progress, it will be possible to find even more people with high blood pressure due to COVID-19 in a few years. “What we need to do at this point is extensive tracking of people who have been infected and who may develop cardiovascular diseases in the future, applying the best preventive treatment method we have available.”