Blood Pressure Is Linked To Other Medical Issues
High blood pressure can be the first indication of a serious underlying condition. When a patient comes in with high blood pressure, doctors will check their urine and kidney function do an electrocardiogram to check the size of the heart and look for lung changes.
Stress on the blood vessels makes people with hypertension more prone to heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and aneurysms. Correspondingly, chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, sleep apnea and high cholesterol increase the risk for developing high blood pressure.
In some women, pregnancy can contribute to high blood pressure, leading to preeclampsia. Postpartum blood pressure typically goes back to normal levels within six weeks. However, some women who have high blood pressure during more than one pregnancy may be more likely to develop high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases as they age.
Some of these medical issues can also cause spikes in high blood pressure .
What Are The Types Of High Blood Pressure
Your provider will diagnose you with one of two types of high blood pressure:
- Primary high blood pressure. Causes of this most common type of high blood pressure include aging and unhealthy habits like not getting enough exercise.
- Secondary high blood pressure. Causes of this type of high blood pressure include different medical problems or sometimes a medication youre taking.
Can Grk4 Cause High Blood Pressure
The protein GRK4. Previous studies show that high levels of the protein GRK4 can cause elevated blood pressure. But now we know this protein is present in breast cancer cells too. Even more importantly, its not present in normal breast cells. To figure this out, researchers examined breast cancer cells and healthy breast cells,
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Is Keto Good For High Blood Pressure
As keto promotes weight loss, it tends to intervene with metabolic syndrome, triglyceride levels, blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity, and blood pressure.
Its thought to be especially beneficial for people with obesity and diabetes.
Keto promotes weight loss by forcing your body to burn fat instead of carbs. When you cut carbs , you run out of fuel from glucose stores. So, your body starts to break down fat for energy. This is known as ketosis, and its what helps you drop fat.
It also helps you lose weight with appetite suppression, increased energy, and lower insulin levels. The combination of these potential factors can contribute to combating hypertension.
Things That Can Increase Your Risk Of Getting High Blood Pressure
You might be more at risk if you:
- eat too much salt and do not eat enough fruit and vegetables
- do not do enough exercise
- drink too much alcohol or coffee
- do not get much sleep or have disturbed sleep
- have a relative with high blood pressure
- are of black African or black Caribbean descent
- live in a deprived area
Making healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if it’s already high.
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High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
If not treated, high blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to a number of complications for both the mother and the baby. Hypertension can affect a mothers kidneys and lead to preeclampsia, as well as increase her risk of future heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke.
Negative Effects Of Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about one out of every three American adults have high blood pressure, or hypertension. Because high blood pressure is so common, it might be tempting to assume that its no big deal. But the truth is, that when left untreated, high blood pressure can put you at risk for potentially life-threatening complications.
Here are eight ways that uncontrolled high blood pressure can negatively affect your health:
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How Chronic Pain Affects Blood Pressure
Chronic pain, which lasts longer than three months, is more likely to impact your blood pressure levels. These include headaches, back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other conditions. When you experience chronic pain, the bodys natural response is to increase blood pressure to support essential functions.
For example, long-term stress increases your bodys production of cortisol, the hormone that regulates pain and inflammation. As cortisol levels rise, your heart rate raises your blood pressure.
You Shouldn’t Ignore White Coat Hypertension
Some people experience white coat hypertension, when blood pressure is elevated in the doctor’s office but not in other settings. These patients need to monitor their blood pressure at home or wear an ambulatory blood pressure monitor that takes your blood pressure every 30 minutes for 24 hours.
While white coat hypertension was formerly considered simple nervousness, recent research suggests otherwise.
A study published in the journal Hypertension found that people with white coat hypertension are at a significantly greater risk for developing sustained high blood pressure than people who have normal blood pressure. One possible explanation is that people with white coat hypertension have a harder time managing stress and anxiety.
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What Is Normal Blood Pressure
A blood pressure reading is written like this: 120/80. It’s read as “120 over 80.” The top number is called the systolic, and bottom number is called the diastolic. The ranges are:
- Normal: Less than 120 over 80
- Elevated: 120-129/less than 80
- Stage 1 high blood pressure: 130-139/80-89
- Stage 2 high blood pressure: 140 and above/90 and above
- Hypertension crisis: higher than 180/higher than 120 — See a doctor right away
If your blood pressure is above the normal range, talk to your doctor about how to lower it.
Stroke And Brain Problems
High blood pressure can cause the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, causing a stroke. Brain cells die during a stroke because they do not get enough oxygen. Stroke can cause serious disabilities in speech, movement, and other basic activities. A stroke can also kill you.
Having high blood pressure, especially in midlife, is linked to having poorer cognitive function and dementia later in life. Learn more about the link between high blood pressure and dementia from the National Institutes of Healths Mind Your Risks® campaign.
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About High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is usually defined as having a sustained blood pressure of 140/90mmHg or above.
The line between normal and raised blood pressure is not fixed and depends on your individual circumstances. However, most doctors agree that the ideal blood pressure for a physically healthy person is around 120/80mmHg.
A normal blood pressure reading is classed as less than 130/80mmHg.
Lowering Systolic Blood Pressure More May Cut Health Risks
One major study found that lowering systolic blood pressure to well below the commonly recommended level also greatly lowered the number of cardiovascular events and deaths among people at least 50 years old with high blood pressure.
When study participants achieved a systolic blood pressure target of 120 mmHg compared to the higher target of 140 mmHg recommended for most people, and 150 for people over 60 issues such as heart attack, stroke and heart failure were reduced by almost one-third, and the risk of death by almost one-fourth.
“That’s important information, because more lives may be saved and more deaths may be prevented if we maintain lower blood pressure in certain patients,” says Lynne Braun, NP, PhD, a nurse practitioner at the Rush Heart Center for Women.
Braun cautions, however, that your personal blood pressure target depends on a variety of things, including your current blood pressure, lifestyle, risk factors, other medications you are taking and your age. “Every person has to be evaluated as an individual,” she says. “Realistically, we can’t get everybody down to 120, and trying to do so may create unintended problems.”
It can be dangerous, for instance, to keep an older person on medications that have unsafe side effects, such as diuretics , which can cause dehydration and dizziness in older adults.
And there can be other issues involved with taking multiple medications, such as cost and compliance.
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High Blood Pressure And Drug Safety
To make sure your medication for high blood pressure is working effectively, avoid certain other drugs because:
- Some medicines can make blood pressure rise. If you have high blood pressure to begin with, it can rise to dangerous levels.
- Some medications may interact with your blood pressure medicine. This can prevent either drug from working properly.
Here are common types of drugs that can make your high blood pressure worse.
High Blood Pressure Threatens Your Health And Quality Of Life
In most cases, damage done from high blood pressure occurs over time. Left undetected or uncontrolled, high blood pressure can lead to:
- Heart attack High blood pressure damages arteries that can become blocked and prevent blood flow to the heart muscle.
- Stroke High blood pressure can cause blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to become blocked or burst.
- Heart failure The increased workload from high blood pressure can cause the heart to enlarge and fail to supply blood to the body.
- Kidney disease or failure High blood pressure can damage the arteries around the kidneys and interfere with their ability to filter blood effectively.
- Vision loss High blood pressure can strain or damage blood vessels in the eyes.
- Sexual dysfunction High blood pressure can lead to erectile dysfunction in men and may contribute to lower libido in women.
- Angina Over time, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease including microvascular disease . Angina, or chest pain, is a common symptom.
- Peripheral artery disease Atherosclerosis caused by high blood pressure can lead to narrowed arteries in the legs, arms, stomach and head, causing pain or fatigue.
Download the consequences of HBP infographic: English | Spanish | Traditional Chinese
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Why Is Your Blood Pressure Important
Your blood pressure is important because if it is too high, it affects the blood flow to your organs. Over the years, this increases your chances of developing heart disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, eye disease, erectile dysfunction and other conditions.
Very occasionally, people with very high blood pressure are at serious risk of problems and need urgent treatment in hospital to reduce the risk of a stroke or heart attack.
Current Australian guidelines recommend that if you have persistent raised blood pressure over 160/100 mmHg, but are at low risk of having a stroke or heart attack, you should talk to your doctor or specialist about taking medication to lower your blood pressure.
For further information, visit the Choosing Wisely Australia website.
If youre over 18, you should have your blood pressure checked by your doctor at least every 2 years, or more often if advised.
What Is A Heart Attack
A heart attack is a sudden loss of blood flow to the heart muscle. It usually happens when plaque deposits from atherosclerosis break open and cause a blood clot that clogs an already narrowed coronary artery and so limits or blocks blood flow.
Without enough oxygen, part of the heart muscle is injured and sometimes permanently damaged.
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Lifestyle Changes For Kidney Health
If youve been diagnosed with CKD, The first thing we tell everybody to do is try to control their diabetes and high blood pressure, to prevent further damage, says Leisman.
The good news: Many of the healthy habits that can help you manage diabetes and high blood pressure, such as eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly, can also help keep your kidneys healthy and stop CKD from getting worse.
Once kidney function is lost, it cannot be restored. But there are steps you can take to prevent further damage and slow the progression of CKD.
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Smoking And Cardiac Arrest
Research from the Nurses’ Health Study published in Circulation: Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology shows the risk of cardiac arrest is increased in smokers. “Cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for sudden cardiac death, but until now, we didn’t know how the quantity and duration of smoking affected the risk among apparently healthy women, nor did we have long-term follow-up,” said lead investigator Roopinder Sandhu, MD, MPH, in an AHA press release.
The study showed that women who quit smoking reduced their sudden cardiac death risk. “Sudden cardiac death is often the first sign of heart disease among women, so lifestyle changes that reduce that risk are particularly important,” said Dr. Sandhu. “Our study shows that cigarette smoking is an important modifiable risk factor for sudden cardiac death among all women. Quitting smoking before heart disease develops is critical.”
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Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs
Cardiac arrest can be fatal if not treated immediately, which is why warning signs should never be ignored. “Sudden cardiac arrest shouldn’t be confused with a heart attack, which is brought on by a disturbance in blood flow rather than our electrical current,” says Geisinger electrophysiologist Faiz Subzposh, MD. “Studies have shown that over half of sudden cardiac arrest patients had warning signs before their incident, but those signs can vary widely between people. Knowing the full range of signs might help patients gauge their risk and give us a head start on treatment.”6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Warning signs include chest pain , shortness of breath , fatigue, a racing heart, unexplained fainting, and dizziness. According to Dr. Subzposh, only one in five patients who notice those symptoms report them. “When the warning signs are seemingly minor, flu-like symptoms, it can be hard to take them seriously. But, on the other hand, we don’t want to create anxiety.”
Other risk factors for cardiac arrest:
- A family history of heart disease
High Blood Sugar And Chronic Kidney Disease
Provided by DaVita® Dietitians
Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure in the United States. This metabolic disorder changes the way the body produces or uses insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate sugar in the blood.
When blood sugar levels get too high, the condition is called hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is a problem for people with diabetes, and it poses a significant health risk when you have chronic kidney disease . If your diabetes is not controlled, it can lead to increased loss of kidney function, cardiovascular disease, vision loss and other complications. Thats why it is vital for people with kidney disease and diabetes to learn the symptoms of high blood sugar and develop ways to prevent it.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia
If you have diabetes you are likely to have had experience with hyperglycemia. Being aware of any indicators that your blood sugar levels may be too high is an important step in controlling your blood sugar. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include the following:
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How Common Are High Blood Pressure And Kidney Disease
Almost 1 in 2 U.S. adultsor about 108 million peoplehave high blood pressure.1
More than 1 in 7 U.S. adultsor about 37 million peoplemay have chronic kidney disease .2
High blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure in the United States after diabetes, as illustrated in Figure 1.2
Almost 1 in 2 U.S. adultsor about 108 million peoplehave high blood pressure.
Monitor Your Blood Pressure Regularly
The best way to prevent complications and avoid problems is to recognize hypertension early.
Keep a log of your blood pressure readings and take it to your regular doctor appointments. This can help your doctor see any possible problems before the condition advances.
People with hypertension can deliver healthy babies despite having the condition. But it can be dangerous to both the birthing parent and baby if its not monitored closely and managed during the pregnancy.
People with high blood pressure who become pregnant are more likely to develop complications . For example, pregnant women with hypertension may experience decreased kidney function. Babies born to birthing parents with hypertension may have a low birth weight or be born prematurely.
Some people may develop hypertension during their pregnancies. Several types of high blood pressure problems can develop. The condition often reverses itself once the baby is born. Developing hypertension during pregnancy may increase your risk for developing hypertension later in life.
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