Why high blood pressure is important for your health

Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, but only a quarter of those with hypertension it under controlaccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

High blood pressure “is a smoldering public health crisis,” says Dr. Rishi K. Wadhera, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of new research showing that blood pressure tests have not returned to what they were before the corona pandemic.

High blood pressure is possible increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, pregnancy complications and other health problems, but the symptoms are “often silent,” said Dr. Wadhera.

“I’m afraid it’s going under the radar for a lot of patients,” he added.

Here’s what you need to know about the problem and how to get your blood pressure under control.

What is blood pressure? And what is a normal level?

Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts exerts force against the artery walls in the heart, said Dr. Jim Liu, a cardiologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. You always hear your blood pressure as two numbers: The top number, known as the systolic pressure, measures the force when the heart contracts. The bottom number, known as diastolic pressure, measures the force when the heart muscle relaxes. Are measured in units known as millimeters of mercuryor mm Hg.

You can have your blood pressure checked during a doctor’s appointment or at the pharmacy, or you can check it yourself with a home monitor. The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology define normal blood pressure as under 120/80 mm Hg. The CDC defines high blood pressure as 130/80 mm Hg or higher.

Very high blood pressure can cause symptoms including severe headache, chest pain and dizziness. However, for many people, blood pressure rises too gradually to notice these problems, said Dr. Liu.

Why is high blood pressure harmful?

High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood. Over time, the overwhelmed heart can slowly start to malfunction and have trouble pumping blood to the rest of the body, a condition called heart failure.

The force and friction of high blood pressure can be too damage the delicate lining of the arteries, said Dr. Liu. Tears in the artery wall cause LDL cholesterol – also known as ‘bad’ cholesterol – to settle and form lumps or plaques in these holes. This can block blood flow and cause a heart attack in some patients.

Blockages in the arteries that carry blood to the brain can lead to a stroke. Long-term damage to the blood vessels in the brain is also possible lead to a condition called vascular dementiasaid dr. Liu.

What leads to high blood pressure?

All arteries stiffen over time, causing blood pressure to rise steadily as people age. At the age of 75, an estimated one 80 percent of men and 86 percent of women in the United States have high blood pressure.

Several risk factors have been associated with high blood pressure, including smoking, drinking heavily, obesity and chronic stress. A lack of exercise and diets high in nutrients sodium and processed foods have also been associated with an increased risk of hypertension.

How can you lower your blood pressure?

For some people, lifestyle changes can be as powerful as medication, said Dr. Martha Gulati, director of preventive cardiology at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. She recommends it at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day and sleep seven to nine hours a night, both of which are associated with lower blood pressure. Maintaining or achieving a healthy body weight can also lower blood pressure, said Dr. Gulati.

Avoiding products that contain nicotine is important. Using nicotine drives up blood pressurenarrows blood vessels and can contribute to hardening of the arteries, according to the American Heart Association.

Some research suggests that following a low-sodium diet could lower blood pressure in some patients by two to eight mm Hg, and that adopting the DASH diet – which emphasizes fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products – could lower blood pressure by eight to fourteen points could be reduced. Abstaining from alcohol or limiting consumption to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men could lower blood pressure by two to four points.

People who cannot lower their blood pressure to normal levels through lifestyle changes will need medications, said Dr. Gulati. Water pills or diuretics help remove sodium and water from the body, lowering blood pressure. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) both relax blood vessels, although they work in different ways. Calcium channel blockers help relax the muscle cells of the blood vessels, and some slow your heart rate. People who cannot lower their blood pressure with these medications may need additional medications. Doctors consider a patient’s age, health, and risk factors before deciding which medication to prescribe.

“Blood pressure is the most modifiable risk factor for heart disease and stroke,” said Dr. Gulati. “With lifestyle changes and medications, our patients can take control of their health – and their heart health.”