I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t say I like silent, sneaky things, especially when they might cause me harm. This is why I’m anxious about my blood pressure numbers. Hypertension (also known as high blood pressure) does not cause symptoms. It’s not possible to feel your blood pressure, so it’s easy for people to ignore it. It is possible to prevent strokes and heart attacks by being aware of your blood pressure levels and taking control of them. What is your health status?
The American Heart Association estimates that over 103 million Americans have high blood pressure levels. This is not only a concern for seniors but for anyone who is overweight, has high-stress levels, isn’t able to exercise regularly, smokes, or is otherwise inactive. Poor lifestyle choices and young adults are more at risk than middle-aged adults. However, they might not be aware of their blood pressure or take it seriously because they feel well. Blood pressure checks are essential for children who are overweight.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 47% and 43% of American men and women have high blood pressure. However, only one in four Americans have it under control. Are you one of these people? Even if your blood pressure was not high when you were 20, 50, or 20 years old, the risk of high blood pressure increases with age. The good news is that you can take control of your blood pressure and keep it within a safe range as you age. It is more dangerous to wait and not do anything about it.
Controlling blood pressure is one of the best ways to prevent death from heart disease.
High blood pressure is possible for people who are obese or have a high body weight (BMI). This applies even to middle-aged or young adults.
What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the force of blood against your arteries. Your arteries become less elastic if the pressure is too high. This can cause a decrease in blood flow and oxygen supply to your heart, leading to heart disease.
The blood pressure measurement takes into account two forces. The first, called Systolic Pressure, is created when blood pumps out from the heart and into the vessels. The second force, diastolic pressure, is created when the heart stops beating between beats. The diastolic number (the lower number) is higher than the systolic. Although blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day, damage to blood vessels can occur if it remains high for too long.
A person with high blood pressure increases their risk of developing dementia or kidney disease. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by high blood pressure, which can lead to cardiovascular disease in 80 percent of patients. High blood pressure can also be caused by sleep apnea. You can fix your sleep problems so that you wake up feeling rested.
Healthy lifestyle habits are vital in preventing high blood pressure. Obesity, or being overweight, is the main reason high blood pressure affects many adults. A simple weight loss of 10 pounds or 10% can reduce blood pressure.
