It can even lead to kidney removal / Doctor raises the alarm about hypertension: It is a silent killer in Albania

Hypertension continues to remain one of the most concerning health problems in Albania, while according to data, nearly 1 in 2 adults suffers from high blood pressure. Doctor Marsida Duli spoke about this issue during a television interview, where she raised the alarm about the serious consequences caused by failing to keep this disease under control.

According to her, regular medical checkups, following treatment protocols, and keeping blood pressure within normal values are essential to avoid chronic kidney damage and severe complications that can lead to dialysis or even surgical intervention.

The doctor emphasized that hypertension is one of the main causes of chronic kidney damage and that around 20–30% of patients who undergo dialysis have high blood pressure as the underlying cause.

“Hypertension is a silent killer. Even when the patient is under treatment, blood pressure fluctuations above the permitted levels can cause continuous damage to the body, especially to the kidneys,” she said.

According to the doctor, the situation becomes even more dangerous in cases of malignant hypertension, an aggressive form of high blood pressure that does not respond to standard treatments.

“In certain cases, the damage can be immediate and the patient may directly face the risk of dialysis. There are extreme cases where nephrectomy, meaning kidney removal, is recommended in order to stabilize blood pressure,” the doctor stated.

She added that there is often negligence both from patients themselves and from the healthcare system, as many people do not follow through with complete diagnosis and treatment according to medical protocols.

According to her, an ECG or just one visit to a cardiologist is not enough to determine the cause of hypertension. The doctor stressed that patients should undergo comprehensive examinations to identify secondary factors that may cause high blood pressure and to avoid long-term complications.

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