Blood pressure boils in the veins of Arab youth

The Algerians are unable to stem the huge torrent of anxiety that is engulfing them and causing their stress to rise.

Arterial hypertension is one of the diseases that has witnessed a terrible rise in Algerian society, especially among young people, some of whom do not exceed the age of eighteen years, and the rates of infection reached three times compared to the rates recognized globally, and this is in contrast to the medical beliefs prevailing among many that this disease only affects the elderly.

Algeria - Specialists said that "the disease of arterial hypertension is spreading at an accelerating pace in Algeria, and it is recording a significant upward trend." Cardiologist Moncef Belmouloud warned of the spread of high blood pressure problems among Algerian youth, especially those who are under 18 years old, which is three times compared to the globally recognized rate, noting that high blood pressure is the most common cardiovascular disease. Hemorrhagic disease is common in Algeria, and its rate among young people is 25 percent.

The general manager of “Sanofi Algeria” Raafat Hanin said that the prevalence of high blood pressure varies according to studies conducted on the adult population, as studies show that the prevalence rate among Algerian adults reached 23.6 percent, and reached 62 percent in the age group between 60 and 69 years. .

The Director-General of Sanofi Algeria added that "this disease, which is widely spread in the world, is considered one of the most important public health problems in Algeria."

Professor Salim Benkhedda, a cardiologist and member of the Algerian Foundation for Arterial Pressure (SEHA), stated that a study showed that 35% of Algerians (over 18 years old) suffer from arterial hypertension, adding that this disease has spread due to changing dietary habits and pollution problems. The lack of physical activities in the Algerian population and anxiety. This asymptomatic disease destroys sensitive body systems such as the heart, kidneys and liver.

Specialists confirm that this disease is linked to psychological stress and that Algerians, especially young people, live in a state of anxiety, tension and pressures apparently resulting from the social, political and economic conditions of the country.

Anxiety at the present time is a widespread and pervasive problem and disorder in societies, while many contemporary psychologists believe that our current era is the “age of anxiety”, where diseases and psychological disorders to which a person is exposed represent a phenomenon worthy of attention and questioning.

Algerian "nervous"

Anxiety, tension, anger, “irritability” and disorder followed by a heart attack or stroke, It is a condition that has long been repeated among Algerians, especially in major cities, to the extent that Algerians have become known as anxious and “irritable” people, and this turbulent condition causes many chronic incurable diseases. And anxiety interferes with the essential composition of about 90 percent of the diseases that Algerians suffer, according to what psychiatrists and doctors have announced in many scientific forums.

Algerians are unable to curb the huge torrent of anxiety that overwhelms them and often drags them into situations they refuse despite their many attempts to change their lifestyle and downplay the problems they are exposed to. Especially since they may reach the unconscious stage of what they say or do at the moment of their anxiety and anger.

Psychologists at the University of Algiers divided anxiety into 3 sections: normal, sick, and close to the human soul.

As for the normal anxiety that accompanies its owner for more than 3 days, it enters a transitional stage of psychological diseases, including tension, pathological emotions and agitation, and may lead to depression and isolation, and may reach the point of suicide.

He defined pathological anxiety as the psychological and pathological development of a person’s living environment from negative psychological pressures that generate pathological foreshadowings if not treated, which makes a person very anxious for the most trivial reasons, and may have projections on the organic side in the form of organic diseases as a result of negative psychological pressure, including blood pressure and various heart diseases.

Algerian psychologists regret the high prevalence of morbid psychological anxiety among men in Algeria, especially among young people, by 85 percent, due to the pressures they live in, and this percentage is likely to rise if it is not addressed as a result of the negative social environment, and that women also suffer from the problem to a lesser extent, Its percentage is about 43 percent, which is generally high compared to Western society.

Psychological anxiety is very prevalent among men in Algeria, especially among young people, with a percentage exceeding 85 percent

Professor Ahsan Shaiban stresses that there is no alternative to raising awareness to stop the advance of the “silent killer,” as it is called, in addition to establishing a healthy culture about this disease among schoolchildren by including curricula on maintaining public health within the school curricula.

Shaiban said that the factors of sensitivity and prevention represent the best solution to stop the widespread spread of hypertension, which is described as the silent killer. Because it has no obvious symptoms, while its complications are heavy on health; Because it causes cerebral palsy, heart failure and even kidney failure, all diseases that lead to death.

Specialists confirm that the reason for the outbreak of anxiety among young people is unemployment, and according to the latest Algerian government data issued in March 2021, the unemployment rate reached about 12 percent, while it exceeds 20 percent among young people.

A group of university researchers published a book by Dar Al Khalduniya, “The Unemployed Algerian Youth: A Social Psychological Study.” The authors said that what drew attention to the issue of unemployment in Algeria is the worsening psychological and social situation of young people. They added that the Algerian lives in a state of constant anxiety that requires him to strive to reduce it and control himself as much as possible, advising the need to exercise, as it is the best way to get rid of all disturbances, at an average of at least 30 minutes per day, according to the consensus of specialists.

The consequences of high blood pressure in the Middle East and North Africa are serious, alarming and alarming

Hookah and fat

Blood pressure is spreading in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, and there is no indication that it will decrease, as it boils with bubbles of shisha (hookah) in the cafes of Tahrir Square in Egypt, and climbs on fried “sticky” meals on Habib Bourguiba Street in Tunisia. People of all stripes and classes are affected by the same amount. Without fundamental change, they will incur a heavy human and economic price.

The World Bank says in a report published on one of its blogs that the escalating tensions in the Middle East and North Africa are not only synonymous with political changes in the region, but are also physical tensions in the literal sense of the word. High blood pressure caused by diets high in fat and high in sodium (found in local sweets such as kunafa and “tarshi” pickles), tobacco (shisha and cigarettes), and a relaxed lifestyle contributes to the deaths of nearly half a million people in the region annually.

Globally, high blood pressure affects four out of ten adults, and countries in the region are no exception. In 2010, blood pressure affected one in two people in some countries in the region, such as Libya. And high blood pressure rates among men at the same level in women as it is the first risk causing death among women and the second among men. What is more worrying is that the spread of this disease has not disappeared with the passage of time. Over the past 20 years, high blood pressure has remained stable as the second leading cause of death and disability in the region (mainly due to nutritional risks). And if nothing is done quickly, the disease is not expected to leave its second place soon.

Blood pressure keeps rising

The consequences of high blood pressure in the Middle East and North Africa are serious, alarming and alarming. If not treated, it leads to vascular blockage and stroke, two of the leading causes of death and disability in the region. The economic cost of high blood pressure is also enormous. A 2007 study estimated the losses incurred by the gross domestic product (GDP) as a result of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in Egypt at about $100 million. This number increased by 125 percent by 2015. Given the dire financial situation in Egypt, this is simply intolerable.

However, this can be avoided. Hypertension is not only preventable and treatable, but prioritizing interventions also involves cost reduction. High blood pressure can be reduced by reducing salt intake (doing away with tarshi), eating a balanced diet (avoiding excessive sweets), quitting smoking (cessing hookah and cigarettes), and exercising regularly (replacement by walking and riding the car). . Early detection and regular examination, although rare in most countries of the region, can effectively reduce symptoms and complications. There are many options for treatment, including the provision of affordable medicines.

Globally, high blood pressure affects four out of ten adults, and countries in the region are no exception

Research shows that it is more economical for regional governments to provide these drugs up front, even to groups at medium and high risk, than to bear the costs of intensive care later.

Observers wonder why high blood pressure continues in the countries of the region? Perhaps there are systemic reasons related to health systems. Given their income levels, the region's governments spend very little on healthcare, with patients bearing most of the costs. While families in the Maghreb and Levant countries bear about 40 percent of health care costs, forcing them to overlook this care or face poverty due to medical costs. This is further complicated by the failure of health systems to respond to the needs of patients, as well as being plagued by a high level of corruption and a low level of trust.

With regard to blood pressure diseases in particular, the region has not invested in pathogen reduction. Although it is a signatory to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, it has not taken effective tobacco control measures, tobacco taxes are low, few countries have legislation prohibiting smoking, and only two countries have issued strong warnings on cigarette packs (which are found to be effective highly in reducing smokers to smoke). Social and cultural traditions and the lack of public spaces limit regular exercise, which is clearly reflected in the suffering of women in the region from the highest rates of obesity in the world. Moreover, poor follow-up and lack of reliable data make it difficult for health services to track and adequately manage outbreaks.

The poor quality of prevention, monitoring and management of high blood pressure is indicative of the many gaps in health care systems in the region. The World Bank says fair and accountable systems should help reduce rising blood pressure, not just figuratively, but actually.