High blood pressure (hypertension) damages our blood vessels. It also damages our heart, our brain, and our kidneys and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Having all this in mind, it is no wonder why routine doctor’s appointments start with a blood pressure check.
Statistics show that one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure, while 20 percent are completely unaware of this because of the lack of symptoms. This is why high blood pressure is called “the silent killer” as most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms and receive the diagnosis only when undergoing a routine examination
Hypertension, that is, high blood pressure, recently took first place among risk factors for the world’s overall disease burden. The more other risk factors a person has for cardiovascular disease, the greater the need to control and treat their high blood pressure.
People with high blood pressure should do their utmost to lower their blood pressure, whether it is with the help of lifestyle changes or medication like Furosemide which helps reduce your blood pressure and lowers swelling from fluid buildup. With certain diseases, such as diabetes or kidney disease, stricter blood pressure control is recommended.
In this article, we share some facts about hypertension that might come as a complete surprise to you.
Differences in Blood Pressure between the Genders
High blood pressure is common but some people have an increased incidence of hypertension and more difficulty controlling their blood pressure than others. In fact, men are more likely to develop high blood pressure than women due to lifestyle habits such as smoking, higher alcohol consumption, low physical activity, higher BMI, and poor diet.
Some ethnic groups have a higher incidence of hypertension than others. Caucasian people have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure than several other ethnic groups, while Asian ethnic groups have the lowest incidence of hypertension.
Hypertension Linked To Several Serious Diseases
High blood pressure is a risk factor that increases the risk of many serious life-threatening diseases. The most common diseases include heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, dementia, and eye injuries.
In general, all organs that are supplied by medium-sized blood vessels are damaged by high blood pressure because the blood pressure has a negative effect on the blood vessels, which in turn leads to the blood vessels becoming less adept at transporting the blood to and from the organs.
High Blood Pressure and Dementia
Research shows that high blood pressure may be linked to an increased risk of dementia or cognitive impairment. Likely, high blood pressure during middle age (45 to 65 years) increases the risk of dementia later in life. Presumably, high blood pressure adversely affects the blood vessels in the brain and causes calcifications and stiffness in the blood vessels that contribute to dementia or cognitive impairment.
High Blood Pressure Affects Young People Too
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High BP does not only affect older people. There is a large portion of the population who develop high blood pressure at a young age.
High blood pressure is a disease that progressively impairs the function of blood vessels and therefore it is important to start checking blood pressure early. High blood pressure in young people may be linked to other medical conditions such as obesity.
Cope with Stress to Reduce Hypertension
The fact that stress raises blood pressure probably does not come as a surprise to anyone. When a person feels stressed, their body sends stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream which can create a temporary spike in blood pressure.
This makes the heart beat faster and blood vessels narrow. Once the stressful situation is over, the blood pressure return to its normal level. On the other hand, chronic stress causes the body to remain in this state longer than natural.
Salt and High Blood Pressure Go Hand in Hand
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Salt flavors our food and is one of the most common spices used. Salt is also important for our bodies but using it in excessive amounts may be harmful and can, among other things, cause high blood pressure.
Reducing salt and thus sodium in your diet is not only good for high blood pressure. It also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and the strain on your kidneys. A salt reduction will have positive health effects and lower blood pressure for both people with high blood pressure and those with more normal blood pressure.
Final Thoughts
High blood pressure is a well-known condition but it deserves more attention. Whether you suspect that you have high blood pressure or want to prevent it, the facts listed above can give you a better understanding of this serious condition.
