WSVN — High blood pressure isn’t usually something young people worry about, but doctors say it should be. Ignoring it can lead to big problems including kidney failure. 7’s Mike Marza shows us this pressure point.
J.D. Sotelo was only 24 years old when a routine screening showed his blood pressure was high.
J.D. Sotelo: “The nurse said, ‘It’s a little bit elevated, so I suggest you keep an eye on it.'”
But since he was young and felt healthy, J.D. says he ignored the warning for years.
J.D. Sotelo: “Unfortunately, I never went to the doctor.”
His decision to avoid a check-up caught up with him a few months ago.
J.D. Sotelo: “I was on vacation, and I felt like flu-symptoms. Three days later, I was in intensive care with a high blood pressure of 242 over 112.”
Within days, the 39-year-old was in stage five kidney failure. J.D. now spends three days a week in dialysis.
J.D. Sotelo: “My life changed dramatically in a minute.”
Patricia Briones: “For some individuals, the progression can happen in a matter of days.”
Doctors say high blood pressure can quietly damage your body for years before symptoms develop and hypertension is the second leading cause of kidney failure.
Patricia Briones: “High blood pressure decreases the oxygen supply to the kidneys so therefore causes damage.”
Since people often don’t have any symptoms, doctors stress the importance of yearly screenings and knowing your numbers.
Patricia Briones: “People should be concerned about a top number of 140 or more, and a bottom number of 90 or more.”
And in most cases, you can prevent kidney failure and other complications.
Patricia Briones: “There are strategies such as taking blood pressure medicine, improving your diet, eating low salt foods, diet and exercising.”
J.D. wishes he had taken his high blood pressure seriously. He’s now hoping to get on a wait list for a kidney and has this warning for others.
J.D. Sotelo: “Go get yourself checked. I wish I did that in my 20’s and I could have prevented this. It’s a very hard lesson.”
If you don’t have time to go to the doctor, many pharmacies can now do a quick check of your blood pressure.
For More Information:
Patricia Briones
Nurse Practitioner, UM Miller School of Medicine
305-243-4000