I disagree. It's not that the symptoms aren't there, but that they have become normalized due to obesity, smoking, etc. being commonplace. Shortness of breath, sleep apnea, feeling weak, upper body tension/pain, etc. are usually present for quite a while in most people before it finally happens. People don't check their blood pressure often enough despite it being so cheap and easy to do.
- “on the cusp of death already”
- Normalized ill-health
There are some things in between those two.
What's really normalized is metabolic syndrome. 88% of adult americans have some degree of metabolic dysfunction. High blood pressure, obesity and other ailments are very often a direct result of that. So much so, that the 'normal' range of indicators such as uric acid has been revised and adjusted over the years, because "normal" people had higher levels and still appeared to be fine. Thankfully, we are starting to question that (eg. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24867507/)
First order of business for anyone watching their blood pressure creeping up over the years (even more so if A1C, triglycerides, liver enzymes and uric acid are rising too): cut sugar in all forms. Not just the sugar you personally add to food, not only what's specified as 'added sugar', but all food containing sugar - which is basically all ultra processed foods. It does include sliced bread which is easily broken down into sugar( and is often laced with additional sugar, check ingredients). Leave your sugar 'allowance' to be used by a reasonable amount of fruits.
That may not reverse the problem (although, in my case, it did) but should help tremendously.
I have insomnia ~5 nights a week. and for some reason I can no longer take naps in my older age. I used to be able to Nap-on-command when I was younger. It SUCKS
Cholesterol, Fasting Insulin levels, and (if male) free Testosterone are other good ones. Cholesterol and Insulin should be checked by all adults annually, and BP should be checked at least annually. T isn't checked as routinely, but it's worth knowing where you fit and has an impact on your metabolics and the test isn't a big deal.
Also, resting heart rate is very easy to measure, especially if you have any kind of fitness/smart watch, and that's a good marker of health too.
I'm a fan of getting lab work done, but it's definitely more of a hassle.
It was once I lost 100lb that it became apparent just how bad condition I was in even though at the time I thought I felt fine. It doesn't help when you mention a lack of energy, or poor sleep to the doctor and they just say "Everyone is tired!".
No, first order of business is consulting your doctor and/or a nutritionist and otherwise adhering to common sense of having a reasonably balanced nutritional diet.
If your first order of business is taking random advice from the intertubez, you have bigger problems than high blood pressure.
In most places, any bozo can claim to be a nutritionist. From what I can tell, a large proportion of them are deranged crackpots.
So, no. Absolutely do not consult a self-described nutritionist.
True but checking your blood pressure is painless, basically free and so easy that one can do it at home with no loss of precision.
Speaking as someone with mild high blood pressure, I see people obsess over diets, physical activity, looks, that never go to the doctor or check for their health conditions and "cure" every discomfort/pain with painkillers or ibuprofen.
And they of course all have some advice to give to me to improve my condition based, of course, on some diet they read online or to try yoga or acupuncture (or whatever is fashionable at the moment) and totally ignore the fact that I've been checking my blood pressure for over 20 years, I know a thing or two about it, because doctors. Yeah... I am that crazy! I see doctors!
Once a year is more than enough for people that have never been diagnosed with anything and yet very few people regularly do it, even here in my Country where medical checkups are virtually free.
IMO the real silent killer is indolence.