10. Type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension are two very different chronic diseases yet they share one ominous factor. What is this factor?
From Quiz Sail On, Silver Girl
Answer:
Both can develop without symptoms
Type 2 diabetes is recognized as a serious public health concern with its rapid increase in incidence due to economic development and urbanisation of the world. Diabetes affects the functional capacity and quality of life of sufferers, which in turn, becomes significant morbidity and early mortality. In the 21st century more than one-third of diabetes-related deaths occur in people under the age of 60). This global burden is due mainly to increased consumption of unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles, resulting in increased Body Mass Index (BMI) and fasting serum glucose. The aging of the human population is another significant contributor, as diabetes tends to affect older people. Symptoms include excess urination, excessive thirst, tiredness, weight loss without reason, poor wound healing, poor eyesight and increased hunger. According to Diabetes UK, "6 out of 10 people have no symptoms when they're diagnosed with type 2 diabetes". Diabetes, if left undiagnosed or if poorly controlled, can cause blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and amputation of the lower limbs. A simple plasma glucose level is a suitable screening test for diabetes when there are no symptoms.
Hypertension, or higher than normal, blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure making it harder for the heart to pump. Initially, it can be symptomless and be present for many years before it is diagnosed. Symptoms can include headaches, nosebleeds with no apparent reason, irregular heartbeat, changes to vision, and buzzing sounds in the ears.
Untreated hypertension can cause angina (chest pain), heart attacks, heart failure, and irregular heartbeat, all of which can cause sudden death. It can also cause strokes and kidney damage, leading to kidney failure. High blood pressure also damages the heart by hardening arteries and decreasing the amount of blood and oxygen that can be pumped by the heart. It can be diagnosed quickly by a blood pressure test in a doctor's surgery or at home with a suitable instrument. Treatment is simple once diagnosed. Lifestyle factors can be adjusted and simple medication taken to lower blood pressure levels.