The diagnosis
A young woman has high blood pressure. Is too much stress the cause?
Many people in Germany suffer from high blood pressure, and there are many reasons for this. But for this woman it doesn’t seem to be one of the usual ones.
The patient called me from the clinic, where she had been admitted with what was supposed to be a heart attack. The suspicion was not confirmed: During the catheter examination, the coronary arteries were well patent. The woman in her late forties had been in my practice a few months earlier because her blood pressure was too high: 160 over 120. Normal is 120 over 80.
Her family doctor believed the high blood pressure was due to stress. A full-time job, family and caring for her father, who has dementia, would put a lot of strain on her. The woman needs to allow herself more rest, then her blood pressure will normalize. The colleague hadn’t been able to reduce the elevated levels with medication, so he sent them to me. Back then, I didn’t believe in the “overworked woman” label: the patient was young, slim, sporty and a non-smoker, so not a typical hypertensive patient.
Published in stern 45/2024
Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
