Disaster hypertension - its characteristics, mechanism, and management - .
The devastating Great East Japan Earthquake, which was 9.0 on the Richter scale, occurred on March 11, 2011. Japan experienced the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake 16 years ago, and I was working at the epicenter, and reported the characteristics of the earthquake-associated cardiovascular risk and high blood pressure (BP) found during the continuous practice and clinical studies of Tsuna Medical Association before and after the quake. A major disaster increases thrombophilic tendency and BP, both of which trigger disaster-induced cardiovascular events such as stroke, cardiac events, etc. The high salt intake and the increased salt sensitivity caused by disrupted circadian rhythms are the 2 major leading causes of disaster hypertension (HT) through neurohumoral activation under stressful conditions. To better assess and reduce the risks for disaster-associated cardiovascular events, we introduced the web-based Disaster Cardiovascular Prevention (DCAP) network (which consists of DCAP risk and prevention score assessment, and self-measured BP monitoring at both the shelter and the home) to the survivors of the 2011 disaster, and frequently found newly developed HT. Here I review the recent evidence, possible mechanism and the management of "disaster HT" for effective prevention of disaster-induced cardiovascular events.
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, and Department of Sleep and Circadian Cardiology, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan. kkario@jichi.ac.jp
Kazuomi
K
Kario
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004190:Disasters; D019468:Disease Management; D055866:Earthquakes; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*