"Avoided the hospital for fear of hearing bad news"... Lee So-ra’s blood pressure hit 190 and her weight surged to 100 kg — what happened? [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Singer Lee So-ra, 56, recently appeared on a variety show and opened up about the health crisis she faced during her long hiatus. She said that depression caused by vocal cord nodules led her to live in extreme isolation for about six years. During that time, her weight rose to 90 to 100 kg, and her systolic blood pressure climbed to 190 mmHg, marking a severe decline in her physical health.
Appearing on tvN's variety show "You Quiz on the Block" on the 15th, Lee said she had lived completely cut off from the outside world. She explained that she was so deeply depressed over losing her voice that she only put on shoes and took the elevator once a year, when she had a performance.
Specialists warn that such an isolated lifestyle, which drastically reduces physical activity, can place immediate and serious strain on the body. When near-total inactivity is combined with stress-related binge eating or irregular eating habits caused by isolation, weight can quickly spiral out of control. In particular, the blood pressure figure Lee mentioned, 190 mmHg, is far above the medical threshold for stage 2 hypertension, defined as a systolic reading of 160 mmHg or higher. It is an extremely dangerous level that can trigger cardiovascular diseases capable of causing sudden death, including stroke and myocardial infarction.
A rapidly increasing body weight puts excessive pressure on the lungs and heart. As a result, even at rest, a person may feel short of breath. Lying down can make breathing uncomfortable and disrupt sleep, while accumulated fatigue further reduces activity, trapping the person in a serious vicious cycle.

Lee also said that nine years ago, when her throat condition suddenly worsened during an outdoor recording, she could not seek treatment because she was afraid she would hear bad news if she went to the hospital. This is a classic example of what medical and psychological experts call'ostrich syndrome'. Just as an ostrich is said to bury its head in the sand when it senses danger and believes it is safe, this is an avoidance response in which a person detects warning signs of illness but still avoids diagnosis out of fear.
However, leaving voice problems or vocal cord disorders untreated in this way can easily allow them to become chronic conditions that are difficult to cure.
Vocal cord nodules are caused by repeated friction or excessive strain on the vocal cords, leading to hardened calluses on the mucous membrane. Fortunately, if they are detected early, most cases can be cured with voice therapy to correct poor vocal habits, enough rest, and simple medication.
But if treatment is delayed and the voice continues to be overused, or if bad habits such as straining the throat while depressed are left unchecked, the vocal cord tissue can become irreversibly hardened and degenerated. In such cases, medication or physical therapy may not be enough, and the patient may need laryngeal microsurgery under general anesthesia.

What helped Lee So-ra overcome her health crisis and return to the microphone was the survival instinct that told her, "I can't keep living like this," and the courage to begin hospital treatment. Once she gathered the courage to seek medical care, take prescribed medication, and move her body again, her energy returned. She then made a full comeback to daily life through new music releases and YouTube activities.
Family medicine specialists say there are several practical habits that can help people escape the trap of physical and mental isolation and lethargy.
First, when the body sends warning signs, people should not rely on uncertain information online or avoid hospitals out of fear. Seeing a specialist right away and facing one's health status objectively is the fastest way to shorten the treatment period.A good habit is to spend 10 minutes a day walking slowly in the sunlight.Walking in the sun promotes the release of serotonin, the so-called happiness hormone, and can noticeably ease depression. Light aerobic exercise also helps stabilize the autonomic nervous system and is highly effective in lowering blood pressure.Building a "positive routine," such as "making the bed after waking up" or "wearing bright-colored clothes even at home," can also helpby giving the brain a fresh stimulus and a boost of energy, even through very small changes in daily behavior.
moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter