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How High Blood Pressure Can Raise Your Risk Of Heart Disease, Death
The authors of a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE say that high blood pressure has been the top risk factor for death among the Australian population for the past 30 years.
Additionally, it has been the primary factor leading to deaths from cardiovascular disease.
According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease includes various conditions affecting the heart and the blood vessels, such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, heart rhythm abnormalities, and heart valve problems.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that high blood pressure is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
It can damage arteries over time, making them less flexible. This reduces the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart. It can also cause the arteries in the brain to burst or become blocked.
The researchers, however, note that despite this knowledge, national health plans in Australia have not always made this condition a priority.
They felt that studying how high blood pressure compares in relation to other cardiovascular disease risk factors could help the country make more effective healthcare policy decisions.
To study the issue, the team from The George Institute for Global Health and UNSW, Sydney, looked at epidemiological data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, which includes data from 204 countries, including Australia, related to almost 400 diseases and 87 risk factors.
Data from 1990 to 2019 was used to determine the main risk factors for deaths from all causes and cardiovascular disease.
When they analyzed the data, they found that high blood pressure's contribution to death declined from about 54% to 44%.
However, it remained the top risk factor in both all-cause and cardiovascular disease-related deaths.
Other top contributors included diet and tobacco use.
There were also differences related to age and sex. In particular, in men between the ages of 25-49, high blood pressure contributed more to deaths from stroke than in other groups.
Dr. Hoang Nguyen, a board certified interventional cardiologist at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, who was not involved in the study, stressed the importance of accurately assessing your blood pressure.
"Ironically, blood pressure readings in the physician's office are often inaccurate; falsely elevated due to the stress of being in the physician's office or the stress of getting there," he explained.
"Blood pressure should be measured at rest (patient should relax for 5 minutes) while seated in a chair with uncrossed legs," Nguyen added. "An arm cuff and not a wrist cuff should be used to measure blood pressure."
Additionally, he advises measuring your blood pressure at home and keeping a log to share with your doctor.
"Once high blood pressure is verified, we can employ lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure, such as regular exercise," he said.
Nguyen remarked that weight loss can also be helpful in lowering blood pressure, to the point that you may no longer require medications. "Just losing 5 lbs. Can lead to a significant reduction in blood pressure," he noted.
Limiting alcohol consumption and quitting smoking can also help, Nguyen stated, adding that smoking cessation also has other benefits for cardiovascular health.
Additionally, getting good sleep and avoiding salty foods can help lower your blood pressure, he said.
Dr. Shannon Winakur, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Maryland, who was not involved in the study, added to the above by suggesting that people also consider whether they have any issues with pain.
"Pain management — whether a result of a chronic condition or injury — is important, as pain is a stressor that can increase your blood pressure," she stated.
Winakur noted that there is a significant overlap between what you can do to reduce your risk of high blood pressure and what you can do to reduce your cardiovascular disease risk.
One additional suggestion she made to reduce the risk of both is moving more.
"The 'official' recommendation is 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity," she said, "but I tell patients that anything is better than nothing."
Winakur also advises not limiting yourself by thinking that exercise has to be something like running or a fitness class.
'You can dance in your kitchen, walk your dog, park farther away from the store, anything that encourages more movement…By building opportunities for moving more into your regular routines, you'll be gradually strengthening your heart," she explained.
When it comes to what you eat, "A diet that consists mostly of vegetables and is low in saturated fat (animal fat, such as beef, pork, ham, bacon, and in dairy products) and low in refined carbs and sugars (as in breads, pastas, and sweets, for example), with small portions of lean meats, fish, and complex carbohydrates can contribute to improved heart — and overall health," Winakur said.
She further advises eating food as close as possible to its natural state.
"You don't see a loaf of bread or chickpea pasta in the wild," she noted.
Winakur also suggests seeing a doctor regularly and having basic testing like blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.
"Being aware of any potential issues early on can spur a conversation with your care provider about things you can do to stay your healthiest," she said.
Finally, Winakur says taking steps to deal with stress is important.
"Use healthy methods for managing stress by doing things like getting enough sleep, moving in some way daily, using meditation regularly, limiting the use of alcohol, and limiting your exposure to the news and screens (TVs, tablets and cell phones) of any kind when you need to," she concluded.
High blood pressure is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
However, an Australian study has found that high blood pressure remains the leading risk factor for premature death from all causes, including cardiovascular disease, in that nation.
Experts advise taking steps to reduce your blood pressure by improving your diet, exercising, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and reducing stress.
This, in turn, will reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and death.
What Is High Blood Pressure? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, And Prevention
The following can increase your chances of developing high blood pressure.
Age The risk of high blood pressure increases as you age; the older you are, the more likely you are to develop high blood pressure. Blood vessels gradually lose their elasticity over time, which can contribute to high blood pressure.[2]
The risk of prehypertension and high blood pressure has been increasing in recent years in young people too, including children and teens, possibly because of the rise in obesity in these populations.[3]
Race High blood pressure is more common in Black American adults than in white, Asian, or Hispanic American adults.[4]
Gender Men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with high blood pressure, until age 64.[2] However, after that age, women are more likely to have high blood pressure.
Family History Having a family history of high blood pressure increases your risk, as the condition tends to run in families.[2]
Weight The more you weigh, the more blood you need to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. When the volume of blood pumping through your blood vessels increases, the pressure on your artery walls also rises.[5]
Physical Activity People who are not active tend to have a higher heart rate and higher blood pressure than those who are physically active.[5] Not exercising also increases the risk of being overweight.
Tobacco Use When you smoke or chew tobacco, your blood pressure rises temporarily, partly from the effects of nicotine. Moreover, chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of your artery walls, which can cause your arteries to narrow, increasing your blood pressure.[5] Being exposed to secondhand smoke may also increase your blood pressure.
Diet What you choose to eat (and not to eat) can increase your risk of hypertension:[5]
[6]
Stress Being under intense stress can lead to a temporary increase in blood pressure.[2] Moreover, if you try to cope with stress by overeating, using tobacco, or drinking alcohol, all of these can contribute to high blood pressure.
Chronic Conditions Having kidney disease, sleep apnea, or diabetes can affect blood pressure.[5]
Pregnancy Being pregnant can cause an increase in blood pressure. High blood pressure occurs in 1 in every 12 to 17 pregnancies in women ages 20 to 44.[7]
Birth Control Women who take birth control pills have a greater risk of developing high blood pressure. It's more likely to occur when women are overweight, have had high blood pressure during a previous pregnancy, have a family history of blood pressure, smoke, or have mild kidney disease.[8]
Causes of Secondary HypertensionWhen high blood pressure arises suddenly due to an identifiable condition, it's called secondary hypertension.
The following conditions can lead to secondary hypertension, including:[5]
Medications that you take to control other health conditions, such as arthritis, epilepsy, or allergies, can cause your blood pressure to rise.
They can also interfere with the ability of drugs used to keep blood pressure down.
The drugs below are some of the ones that may negatively affect blood pressure.[9]
Pain Medications Common pain and anti-inflammatory medicines can lead to water retention, which can increase blood pressure and create problems with the kidneys.
Examples include:
Antidepressants These drugs work by changing the body's response to chemicals that affect mood. That can also lead to an increase in blood pressure.
Examples of antidepressants that may elevate blood pressure include:
Decongestants These medicines, which include common cough, cold, and allergy drugs, are known to raise blood pressure and to alter the effectiveness of blood pressure medication.
Examples include pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, Contac) and phenylephrine (Sudafed PE).
Hormones Birth control pills can also affect blood pressure. Women who take birth control pills usually experience a small rise in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (the top and bottom numbers that are determined when you get your blood pressure checked).
Hormone therapy used to relieve symptoms of menopause can also cause a small rise in systolic blood pressure.
If you know you have high blood pressure but are considering hormone therapy, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of undergoing hormone therapy, as well as the best ways to control your blood pressure.
Additionally, some recreational and illegal drugs, such as cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), and amphetamines, are also known to increase blood pressure.
What Is The Difference Between High Blood Pressure And Low Blood Pressure?
Hypertension and hypotension are conditions related to blood pressure but represent opposite ends of the spectrum. Both conditions have different causes, symptoms, and treatment options.
While hypertension is a condition of persistently high blood pressure, hypotension refers to unusually low blood pressure.
This article looks at the differences between hypertension and hypotension.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a long-term (chronic) medical condition where a person's blood pressure is elevated over a period of time. It is a major risk factor for various conditions affecting the heart, kidneys, and brain.
Healthcare professionals measure a person's blood pressure in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). The precise high blood pressure values are as follows:
If a person experiences a hypertensive crisis, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.
Hypotension is a condition where the blood pressure is much lower than typical. This can lead to poor blood flow to the organs of the body.
A person has low blood pressure when their blood pressure is lower than 90/60 mm Hg.
A person can also experience severe low blood pressure. These readings can vary depending on the individual. However, significantly low readings, especially if they occur alongside other symptoms, might indicate a severe medical condition.
The symptoms of hypertension and hypotension can vary significantly.
HypertensionHypertension does not usually cause symptoms, especially in the early stages. For this reason, healthcare professionals sometimes refer to it as a "silent killer."
In some cases, people with very high blood pressure — measuring 180/120 mm Hg or higher — may experience:
However, these symptoms are nonspecific and usually do not occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life threatening stage.
HypotensionSymptoms of hypotension can happen because the brain and other parts of the body are not getting enough blood. Symptoms can include:
These symptoms can occur suddenly. They may also vary in intensity depending on why a person's blood pressure drops and how quickly it happens.
The causes of hypertension and hypotension can vary.
HypertensionAlso called essential hypertension, primary hypertension develops over time with no identifiable cause. Among individuals with hypertension, primary hypertension is the most common form, according to the American Heart Association.
Risk factors include:
Secondary hypertension usually occurs as a result of an underlying condition. It tends to appear suddenly and can cause higher blood pressure than primary hypertension.
Causes may include kidney disease and adrenal gland tumors.
HypotensionThere are many causes of low blood pressure. Some causes include:
A medical professional will measure a person's blood pressure using a piece of equipment called a sphygmomanometer.
A doctor will base the diagnosis on multiple readings over time rather than a single measurement. If it is consistently high or low, the doctor can provide a diagnosis of either hypertension or hypotension respectively.
The treatment options for each vary.
HypertensionLifestyle changes are often the first line of treatment, and they may include:
If lifestyle changes are not enough, or if blood pressure is very high, doctors may prescribe medication.
Common types of medication include:
It is important to regularly monitor blood pressure. This is to make sure the treatment is working well and make adjustments as necessary.
HypotensionA person may not require treatment for low blood pressure.
Depending on a person's symptoms, a doctor may suggest drinking more fluids, taking medications, or adjusting any existing medications that may be causing the low blood pressure.
Lifestyle and home remedies may also help, including:
A person can monitor their blood pressure at home. Here are some tips for effective monitoring:
Read on for the answers to some commonly asked questions about hypertension and hypotension.
Is one more serious than the other?If a person has high or low blood pressure, it is advisable to contact a doctor.
A low blood pressure reading is not typically a cause of concern unless a person is experiencing other symptoms. High blood pressure, however, is a serious medical condition that can raise the risk of serious medical conditions affecting the heart, kidneys, and brain.
Can a person have both at the same time?Although it is rare to have both at the same time, it is possible. Some people may experience fluctuations in their blood pressure. It may be high at times and low at others. This is due to various factors like medications, autonomic nervous system disorders, or dehydration.
Postprandial hypotension is a form of low blood pressure that happens after eating. Postprandial hypotension can occur in people with high blood pressure.
Hypertension refers to high blood pressure. It poses a chronic risk factor for serious health issues such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. Healthcare professionals often refer to high blood pressure as a "silent killer" as it does not often cause any symptoms.
Hypotension, also known as low blood pressure, generally poses less risk. However, hypotension can lead to symptoms like dizziness and fainting. It can be life threatening in severe cases.
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