It isn’t easy to detect elevated blood pressure, commonly known as hypertension. Most of the time you won’t notice it. However, if you’re one of 78 million Americans who suffer from hypertension, or part of 70 million suffering from hypertension or prehypertension (higher-than-healthy blood pressure) It’s crucial to be aware of the effects it has on your health, and to get started today on bringing your blood pressure levels down to healthy levels.
Blood pressure refers to the force exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries. It fluctuates throughout the day, falling when you’re asleep or relaxed and rising naturally in the early morning, and increasing in the short-term when in a stressful situation, or working out. When your blood pressure is excessively, it may cause damage, stiffening and/or weakening of blood vessels. This can increase your chance of suffering heart attacks; double the chance of having stroke; increase your risk of suffering from heart failure , loss of vision as well as kidney-related issues or dementia, as well as circulatory problems such as peripheral artery diseases (which causes leg pain) as well as weakening your bones ; and cause the erectile dysfunction of men.
Risk Factors and Causes
There is a chance that you are at risk of high blood pressure if smoke or are overweight, eat food that is low in fiber and produce, or excessively salty and saturated with fat or drink alcohol in excess and are under stress for a long time or do not engage in a lot of physical exercise. Some causes of hypertension cannot be controlled–including your genes and your race (African-Americans are at a higher risk). The aging process also plays a factor. Even if it is not the case that you have hypertension at the age of 55-65 the risk of becoming a victim is 90 percent.
“But doctors are no longer able to think that hypertension is inevitable or not treatable due to the advancing years,” says Samuel Durso, M.D., director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at Johns Hopkins.
In a Johns Hopkins study of 975 men and women who had hypertension, lifestyle changes that were healthy led to 40 percent of them stopping taking blood pressure medicines. Another study has demonstrated the benefits of lifestyle modifications to reduce the risk of hypertension among African-Americans as well as other groups with an higher risk of genetic inheritance.
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Prevention
A healthy lifestyle can be an effective defense against hypertension and its negative consequences. These actions can reduce your risk, as well as to lower your risk when you already suffer from hypertension or prehypertension.
You can lose a few pounds. Extra weight, and especially belly fat, which is stored in your abdomen, can increase blood pressure by increasing the volume of blood and altering the balance of hormones controlling pressure. “Even small weight loss could have a significant impact,” Durso notes, in reference to research which shows that dropping only 7.7 pounds can reduce the risk of elevated blood pressure by 50%% or more.
Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink. “Moderating alcohol is extremely important,” Durso says. “If you’re a man who consumes at least two drink in a day or a female who consumes at least one drink per day, reduce your intake.” Although a bit of alcohol can relax the arteries, drinking too much appears to create a negative effect.
Increase your activity. Exercise and other forms of physical exercise can help maintain flexibility in arteries and can also lower activity in the sympathetic nerve system , which can enlarge blood vessels and increase blood pressure. If you have already been diagnosed with excessive blood pressure exercising regularly can reduce your blood pressure by between 8 and 10 points, as per the American Heart Association.
Keep your blood pressure in check. Minerals like magnesium, calcium as well as potassium (found in fat-free and low-fat dairy products like yogurt and milk as well as in dried beans and in the produce) aid in regulating your body’s blood pressure. A lack of them can cause a rise in the blood pressure. Also, high levels of sodium, which are found in a variety of processed foods–by causing your body to retain water (which increases the volume of blood) and also tightening the blood vessels that are small. The saturated fat (found in cheese, meat butter, butter, full-fat dairy products, as well as many processed food items) can also increase blood pressure.
Stop smoking cigarettes. Smoking causes damage to arteries and increases the risk of developing heart disease. When you’re smoking cigarettes smoking, the chemical compounds in tobacco products increase blood pressure as well.
Relax and reduce tension. It’s not known if mindfulness-based therapies can have a long-lasting impact on blood pressure or lower the risk of developing it, but it’s known that stress-related hormones in the body produces hormones that temporarily increase blood pressure. You’ll feel more relaxed and be more able to make healthy lifestyle changes when you consistently practice techniques to relax your mind, such as breathing exercises, progressive relaxation , and exercises for fitness. One method, meditation has been proven to decrease the risk of strokes and heart attacks among people who have hypertension.
Diagnostics and Treatment
To bring your blood pressure to a normal level, your physician is likely to recommend changes to your lifestyle, medications or both. “The choice to start blood pressure medication — and the amount and type that your doctor prescribes will be based on the level of your blood pressure” Durso explains. “If you are suffering from prehypertension, or you have blood pressure that is slightly elevated, lifestyle changes might be the first thing to consider. In the range of 5 or more of body fat, decreasing sodium intake, adjusting your diet and exercise routine typically result in lower blood pressure. When your blood pressure has risen elevated however, your doctor may suggest these changes, along with blood pressure medications.”
There are six major kinds of blood pressure medication:
Diuretics help the body get rid of excess sodium and water.
Beta blockers lower the heart rate and the output of blood. This lowers blood pressure.
Vasodilators, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and calcium-channel blockers all work by relaxing constricted blood vessels.
“Your doctor will determine the medication that is right your needs,” Durso says. “Often doctors prescribe more than one drug to lower blood pressure. There are medication that works on many different mechanisms to lower your blood pressure. Your doctor might be able to provide you with smaller doses of medication as well as reduce the chance of adverse effects by combining three or two medicines.”
Two essential things you should be aware of about your treatment
Your doctor might increase the dose slowly. “It may take from one months to six weeks lower your blood pressure by gradually increasing the doses of your medication,” Durso notes. “Lowering the blood pressure to fast could result in dizziness, and also increase the chance of falling.”
Report side effects. “Don’t stop medication by yourself,” warns Durso. “Call or schedule an appointment to inform your doctor about any adverse reactions you might be experiencing. The doctor could be able make adjustments or change the medication you are taking.” Some side effects include fatigue and cold feet or hands depression, impotence and sleep disorders or heartbeat irregularities, as well as dry cough.
Living with
A high blood pressure can often have no signs. This can make staying on the right track with your healthier lifestyle choices and medications difficult, as you may not notice the impact. These steps will aid you in managing the blood pressure you experience on a daily basis:
Make use of a reminder system for your medication. An everyday pill dispenser or pills that ring each time it’s time for the next dosage, or a note on your fridge–whichever reminding system is most effective for you. Around one-third of patients with hypertension fail to adhere to the prescribed dosage which increases your risk of stroke, heart disease and other health issues.
Monitor at home. “You have the highest significant person on your blood pressure management team. A blood pressure monitor at home will let you know whether your lifestyle and medications modifications are helping. It will help you maintain your health,” Durso says. “You can purchase cheap monitors at pharmacies.”
Visit your doctor according to the recommendations. “Your doctor might want to visit you at least every three or four months during the first couple of years following your diagnosisto make certain that your lifestyle and medication changes are working , and to adjust your lifestyle,” Durso says. “For those whose blood pressure is managed well and monitors it from home, an visit every six months could be enough. When your blood pressure is in the normal range and you don’t require medication, you might only require a recheck once at least every 2 years.”
Be aware of highs and lows. Some blood pressure medications may decrease your blood pressure to a great extent. If you notice symptoms of low blood pressure – dizziness or blurred vision, fainting or nausea, etc., you should consult your doctor. However when the Systolic (top) number is 180 or higher , or if you diastolic (bottom) number increases to 110 or greater, you should seek immediate medical assistance.
Research
Johns Hopkins experts continue their research into understanding and treating high blood pressure with a view to healthier health in the present. The research that you can access includes the following results:
Link established between taking blood pressure medicines and the risk of developing dementia. In a study conducted in 2013 of 3,000 elderly people released in Neurology, Johns Hopkins researchers discovered that those who were taking diuretics ARBs or ACE inhibitors were 50 percent less at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease .
The intensive treatment reduces blood pressure among African-American males. Urban African-Americans are at an increased risk of untreated hypertension that can lead to fatal outcomes. In a study that lasted five years of 309 African-American males aged between 21 and 54years old, Johns Hopkins researchers found that taking medication, regular appointments at home, and in appointment at the clinic decreased blood pressure of the participants significantly.
For Caregivers
If you’re the spouse or caretaker of someone suffering from high blood pressure This article will show you how to assist.
Ask how you can help in the administration of medications. You could provide “time to take medication” reminders, and assist your loved one to take prescribed medications when they are they are required.
Encourage healthy endeavors. A positive attitude can motivate your loved ones to keep it up. But trying to regulate the behavior could backfire. If you suspect that your loved one isn’t making positive changes, ask them how you can assist.
Make a commitment to being healthier Together. Couples who take on losing weight and exercising together are more likely to keep up their commitments. The process of transforming your habits together can be uplifting it can also create a bit of healthier competition and can be comfortable, since you’re both eating the same food and follow the same routine for exercise.
Definitions
The blood vessels (veh-suls) A system of flexible tubes -arteries capillaries, veins, and capillaries that transport blood throughout the body. Oxygen and nutrients are transported via arteries to tiny thin-walled capillaries, which feed cells and take up waste materials, including carbon dioxide. Capillaries transfer waste material to veins, which transport your blood to lungs and the heart in which carbon dioxide is released through the breath you exhale.
Dementia (di-men-sha) means a decline of brain function, which could result from a variety of diseases that affect the brain. Its symptoms include forgetfulness, poor thinking and judgement and personality changes, as well as disturbance and loss of control. Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s Disease and a lack of cerebral blood circulation could cause dementia in a variety of ways. Many forms of dementia are irreversible.
Diastolic (die-uh-stah-lick) blood pressure: The second or bottom, number of the reading of blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure measures strength of blood flow in the arteries during times when the heart is in a relaxed state between heart beats. A normal reading is less than 80 millimeters Hg. More elevated readings could mean that you suffer from hypertension or that you are at risk of developing it.
Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body requires, due to it is not fully filled or pump enough force. High blood pressure, diabetes heart disease, diabetes, and valve issues can lead to heart failure. A heart failure does not necessarily indicate that the heart is close to stopping. The use of medications and lifestyle modifications may help reduce the symptoms.
Peripheral arterial disease (puh-rif-er-uhl ahr-tahree dih-zeez) The accumulation of cholesterol and fat deposits known as plaques in the arteries of your arms, legs or head. It can also affect internal organs such as the head. This decreases blood flow which causes discomfort, numbness, and a intense, aching feeling when taking a walk or climbing steps. Peripheral artery disease may increase the risk of slow-healing illnesses, too. The treatment options include stopping smoking, and managing cholesterol, blood pressure as well as blood sugar.
Saturated fat is a type of fat that is abundantly found in butter entire milk, ice cream full-fat cheese, fat chicken skin, meats and coconut and palm oils. Saturated fat increases the levels of dangerous for your heart LDL cholesterol that circulates through your bloodstream. It also hinders the ability of your body to take in blood sugar quickly. A reduction in saturated fat can reduce the risk of getting heart disease.
Sympathetic nervous systems: the nervous system that triggers”fight or flight,” also known as the “fight or flee” response , and helps you prepare for an emergency or stress. It’s responsible for preparing your body to take action by raising the speed of breathing, the heart rate, and alertness. The parasympathetic nervous systems of the body performs the opposite. It reduces breathing and heart rate, which creates an euphoria.
Systolic (sis-tall-ick) blood pressure: The highest or the first number on the reading of blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure that is felt in the arteries in a heartbeat. Most people have an ideal systolic blood pressure reading is lower than 120 mm Hg. The rising blood pressure in the systolic area could suggest that the arteries are becoming stiff or there is a accumulation of plaque.