Dr. Amr: The lifestyle is a major cause of high blood pressure and diabetes

Dr. Amr Dia Hussein, a general doctor, revealed that high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes witness a global rise mainly driven by lifestyle options, including bad diet, lack of physical activity, obesity, smoking, alcohol, and chronic tension, as all of these matters constitute the main causes that lead directly to these diseases by damaging metabolic and negative systems. It paves the way for these diseases with these factors:

First: The bad diet, the processed foods rich in sugar and sodium raise blood sugar and blood pressure, and daily sugary drinks increase the risk of diabetes by 26%, according to “The Lancet”.

Second: The lack of physical activity, the inactive habits weaken the use of insulin and raise blood pressure, as less than 150 minutes of weekly exercises increases the risk of high blood pressure by 30-50%.

Third: Obesity, excess weight causes insulin resistance and raises blood pressure, as obesity increases the risk of diabetes seven times and doubles the risk of high blood pressure, according to CDC.

Fourth: Smoking, nicotine narrows the blood vessels and increases insulin resistance, which raises the risks.

Fifth: Excessive alcohol, excess drinking disrupts sugar control and raises blood pressure.

Sixth: Chronic tension, as high cortisol and adrenaline raises blood sugar and blood pressure.

On the question: Why is the lifestyle is the main engine, Dr. Amr continued by saying:

Lifestyle factors are dominated because they are common, adjustable, and lead directly to the mechanisms of the disease, as more than 90% of type 2 diabetes and 70% of high blood pressure cases can be prevented through lifestyle changes, according to CDC and the American Heart Association, and that the diabetes prevention program showed that diet, exercises, and weight loss reduces the risk of diabetes by 58%. Dash diet reduces blood pressure by up to 11 mm Hg.

On the lifestyle solutions, Dr. Amr said:

Healthy eating, regular exercises (150 minutes – week), weight loss (5-10%), quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol, and tension management can prevent and manage these diseases, along with general health efforts, such as food education and political changes, as they enhance the effect.

Dr. Amr concluded his speech by saying:

High blood pressure and diabetes mainly from lifestyle, not genes or age, and by changing daily habits, individuals can prevent and reverse these cases, which reduces their global burden.