How Does High Blood Pressure Affect The Heart

How Is High Blood Pressure Treated

If high blood pressure is due to a condition like kidney disease or lung disease, treating it might be enough to get the blood pressure back to normal.

Doctors also might recommend lifestyle changes. If you have hypertension, your doctor might want you to:

Eat a healthy diet:

• Eat more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy.
• Limit salt.
• Avoid alcohol.

Get regular exercise:

• Try to exercise for 3060 minutes at least 3 times a week. But teens with severe hypertension should not do any weightlifting or power-lifting, bodybuilding, or strength training until their blood pressure is under control and a doctor says it’s OK.

Not smoke. Or if you do smoke, quit:

• People with high blood pressure should not smoke, and their home and car should be smoke-free.

If diet and exercise changes do not improve the blood pressure, doctors may prescribe medicine.

Your Brain On High Blood Pressure

Your brain is not equipped to handle high blood pressure, so your body tries to protect the brain by shielding it. Your blood vessels will constrict, or narrow, to prevent the brain from the increased pressure the rest of your body is dealing with. This a dangerous situation for the brain on a long-term basis.

Thats one of the challenges we face in treating high blood pressure: the bodys attempt to adapt. The body tries to adjust as your blood pressure increases over time, but its only somewhat effective at doing so.

High blood pressure constantly damages your arteries, which arent designed to withstand pressure above the 120/80 range for long periods of time. Under higher pressure, theyre continually forced to try to heal from the damage. This constant damage/healing cycle can promote;atherosclerosis, a buildup of substances in your arteries that can reduce or block blood flow and lead to stroke or heart attack.

What Should I Do If I Have High Blood Pressure

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you and your healthcare provider will talk about your target blood pressure. Your provider may suggest that you:

• Check your own blood pressure regularly with a home blood pressure monitor. These electronic monitors are available at most pharmacies or online.
• Work on controlling anger and managing stress.

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What Does It Mean To Have High Blood Pressure

High;blood pressure;is when;your blood pressure is;permanently;higher than normal.;High blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for heart disease, especially heart attacks and strokes.;

Its possible to have high blood pressure without knowing, so its important to keep an eye on it by getting your heart health checked regularly by a health professional.;;

If you do have high blood pressure,;you can help manage it with some simple changes to your lifestyle,;such as eating a heart healthy diet and exercising more. Your doctor might also;recommend some medications to keep it under control.;

Is Diet Soda Safe For Diabetes

Diet soda and diabetes

Managing blood sugar levels is an everyday goal for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

While eating sugar doesnt cause either type of diabetes, keeping tabs on carbohydrate and sugar intake is an important part of managing both types of diabetes. Eating healthfully and staying active can also reduce your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Being overweight or having obesity is linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. In fact, obesity is one of the leading causes of type 2 diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , more than one-third of American adults have obesity. Obesity can put you at risk for diabetes and other health conditions.

Eating highly processed foods that are high in sugar, unhealthy fats, and empty calories increases your risk of gaining excess weight.

Drinking sugary drinks is also a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. If youre working to keep your blood sugar in check or manage your weight, you might choose diet soda.

Low in calories and sugar, diet sodas appear to be a good alternative to sugary drinks. Diet sodas are 99 percent water, and when checking the nutrition facts panel, you should see less than 5 to 10 calories and less than 1 gram of carbohydrate per serving.

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Can High Blood Pressure Be Prevented Or Avoided

If your high blood pressure is caused by lifestyle factors, you can take steps to reduce your risk:

• Lose weight.
• Reduce your alcohol consumption.
• Learn relaxation methods.

If your high blood pressure is caused by disease or the medicine you take, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Additionally, treating any underlying disease can help reduce your high blood pressure.

How Can I Be More Active

• Check first with your healthcare provider before increasing your physical activity. Ask your provider what type and amount of exercise is right for you.
• Choose aerobic activities such as walking, biking or swimming.
• Start slowly and increase activity gradually. Aim for a regular routine of activity 5 times a week for 30 to 45 minutes each session.

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Blood Pressure And Heart Rate Are Always Linked

False:;It is true that blood pressure and heart rate often rise and fall together, Dr. Laffin says. When you face danger, for example, your blood pressure and pulse may both jump upward at the same time. However, if your heart rate rises, that doesnt automatically mean your blood pressure will rise or vice versa.

When the two are disconnected, you may be looking at a specific problem, Dr. Laffin says. For example, if you are dehydrated, bleeding or have a severe infection, blood pressure typically decreases and heart rate increases.

When You Measure Matters

True: To measure your resting heart rate and blood pressure, pick a reliable and reproducible time, Dr. Laffin advises. Ideally, check in the morning before medications and occasionally in the evening, around dinner time. Dont take your readings right after exercising unless youre trying to establish a baseline for whats called active blood pressure and heart rate.

During readings, you want to be in a resting position with your legs uncrossed. Many people dont realize that crossing your legs while taking a reading may cause an eight to 10 point increase in systolic blood pressure.

Which measure is more important? This depends on your health, too. For patients with;atrial fibrillation, heart rate might be more important to watch, but many other heart diseases depend more on blood pressure. To be safe, measure both.

Almost all automated kits you buy at a store provide blood pressure and pulse on one readout, Dr. Laffin says. Its convenient and knowing both numbers helps better understand how to make lifestyle and medication adjustments.

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High Blood Pressure: The Silent Killer

Some people believe they can feel when their blood pressure is high.;Unfortunately, thats not true.

Many people who have high blood pressure have no idea they have it because it;has no signs or symptoms. Thats why we call high blood pressure the silent killer.

You may not be able to feel your high blood pressure, but its definitely damaging your body. The American Heart Association warns of many possible;consequences of high blood pressure, such as:

• Angina
• Damage to the heart and coronary arteries
• Peripheral artery disease;
• Stroke

What Does High Blood Pressure Do To The Heart

Most recognize that high blood pressure has negative health effects.; Its measured at each medical appointment, and when found to be in an unhealthy range, a course of action is quickly mapped out to bring it back down.; Many people also know that suffering from high blood pressure increases their risk of catastrophic health events such as stroke or heart attack.; However, few are aware of how or why this is the case.

Understanding exactly what high blood pressure means, how it occurs, and how it impacts health can help patients better grasp the importance of vigilance in monitoring and controlling their own blood pressure, as well as the dangers of allowing the condition to go untreated.

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What Does Chest Tightening Feel Like

What is chest tightness? Chest tightness includes any type of pain or discomfort that occurs between your upper belly area and your lower neck. Chest tightness can occur in any age group or population and may also be described as chest pain, chest pressure, or a feeling of burning or fullness in the chest.

How Do I Know If I Have Heart Problems Or Anxiety

Panic attacks and heart attacks can feel frighteningly similar: shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, vertigo, feelings of unreality, numbness of hands and feet, sweating, fainting, and trembling. Some people describe this experience as feeling as if theyre losing control or going to die.

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Diet Soda Diabetes And Eye Disease

Unfortunately, increased mortality rates arent the only bad news surfacing from diet soda studies.

A 2018 study found that people with diabetes who consumed more than 4 cans of diet soda per week were two times more likely to develop a diabetes complication called proliferative diabetic retinopathy .

But if you read the entire study, the authors reported that those with increased risk of retinopathy were those with type 1 diabetes, had a greater BMI, 55 percent were current smokers, had elevated blood fat levels, and high blood pressure which can all contribute to the development of eye disease.

When authors adjusted the results for variables such as A1c levels , age, gender, smoking, etc., there was no difference in eye disease between the diet soda drinkers and the non-consumers except those with the highest consumption.

So, everything in moderation even no calorie soda is still a good motto to live by.

Disorders Of The Cardiovascular System: Arteriosclerosis

Compliance allows an artery to expand when blood is pumped through it from the heart, and then to recoil after the surge has passed. This helps promote blood flow. In arteriosclerosis, compliance is reduced, and pressure and resistance within the vessel increase. This is a leading cause of hypertension and coronary heart disease, as it causes the heart to work harder to generate a pressure great enough to overcome the resistance.

Arteriosclerosis begins with injury to the endothelium of an artery, which may be caused by irritation from high blood glucose, infection, tobacco use, excessive blood lipids, and other factors. Artery walls that are constantly stressed by blood flowing at high pressure are also more likely to be injuredwhich means that hypertension can promote arteriosclerosis, as well as result from it.

Recall that tissue injury causes inflammation. As inflammation spreads into the artery wall, it weakens and scars it, leaving it stiff . As a result, compliance is reduced. Moreover, circulating triglycerides and cholesterol can seep between the damaged lining cells and become trapped within the artery wall, where they are frequently joined by leukocytes, calcium, and cellular debris. Eventually, this buildup, called plaque, can narrow arteries enough to impair blood flow. The term for this condition, atherosclerosis describes the mealy deposits.

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Heart Attack From High Blood Pressure

When the damaged or diseased arteries are those which supply blood directly to the heart muscle, a condition known as coronary artery disease is the result.; For years, even decades, it may go undetected.; However, decreased flow of oxygen-rich blood will eventually lead to troubles such as arrhythmia , chest pain, and in the event of a total blockage, heart attack.;

During a heart attack, the portion of the heart supported by the blocked artery is suddenly and completely deprived of oxygen.; If blood flow is not quickly restored, that section of the heart will begin to die.; Potential symptoms may include chest pain, shortness of breath, and upper body discomfort in the jaw, shoulder, neck or back.

Whos At Risk For High Blood Pressure

As we age, our risk for high blood pressure increases. More than 76 percent of men age 75 and older have it, and;nearly 80 percent of women have high blood pressure by the time they reach age 75. It has been said that hypertension is a disease that everyone will get if they live long enough!

In addition to age, factors that can increase your risk for hypertension include:

• Using tobacco

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Is It My Heart Or Anxiety

Most people can identify the pattern of their beating heart, whether their heart started to race during a moment of stress or anxiety, or if the rapid heart rate or palpitations occurred out of the blue. In many cases, anxiety that follows palpitations is a straightforward clue that the heart is the primary issue.

What Should I Do If My Blood Sugar Is High After Eating

Blood sugar spike: What to do. Its important to know the symptoms of hyperglycemia. If you suspect that you have high blood sugar, perform a finger stick to check your level. Exercising and drinking water after eating, particularly if youve consumed a lot of starchy carbs, can help lower your blood sugar.

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What Is The Pulse Rate

The pulse rate is a measurement of the heart rate, or the number of times the heart beats per minute. As the heart pushes blood through the arteries, the arteries expand and contract with the flow of the blood. Taking a pulse not only measures the heart rate, but also can indicate the following:

• Heart rhythm

• Strength of the pulse

The normal pulse for healthy adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. The pulse rate may fluctuate and increase with exercise, illness, injury, and emotions. Females ages 12 and older, in general, tend to have faster heart rates than do males. Athletes, such as runners, who do a lot of cardiovascular conditioning, may have heart rates near 40 beats per minute and experience no problems.

Traumatic Injuries Or Internal Bleeding

A traumatic brain injury or bleeding around your brain can also cause a combination of high blood pressure and a low pulse. Both injuries and bleeding increase pressure on your brain, leading to something called the Cushing reflex.

The symptoms of Cushing reflex include:

• slow heart rate
• high blood pressure
• irregular or very slow breathing

If youve recently had any sort of head injury and notice these symptoms, contact a doctor right away.

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If You Suspect Youre Having A Heart Attack

Pain or pressure in the chest is the most common symptom of a heart attack. However, pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck or jaw can also be a sign and so can shortness of breath, nausea or light-headedness. If you experience one or more of these warning signs, CALL 911 immediately, even if youre not sure its a heart attack. EMS staff can begin treatment when they arrive up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. People with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too.

Dont let high blood pressure cause a heart attack:

Will Taking Birth Control Pills Increase My Chances Of Getting High Blood Pressure

Doctors and researchers have found a link between birth control pills and an increase in blood pressure among some women. They say that it is more likely to occur in women who are overweight, have kidney disease or have a family history of high blood pressure.

Talk to your health care team to determine what forms of birth control may be best for you. Women with known medical problems or other special conditions might need additional examinations or tests to determine the appropriate method of contraception.

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Protecting Your Cardiovascular Health

The good news is that your doctor can identify high blood pressure with regular checks. If found, it can be successfully treated using a combination of medication and heart-healthy lifestyle changesor sometimes, lifestyle changes alone.

Making small changes to your habits, such as eating a lower sodium diet, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol intake, and quitting smoking can lower your blood pressure by 10-20 mmHg or more. And, if your doctor has prescribed blood pressure medication, it is important that you take it as directed.

Taking high blood pressure seriously and following your doctors treatment instructions can lower your risks of serious complications and make a big difference in your overall health.

If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or think you might be at risk, schedule an appointment with your primary care;provider today.

Better Blood Pressure For Life

Working toward a healthier blood pressure changes the way you live your life. When I prescribe medication for high blood pressure, I tell my patients theyll likely take it every day for the rest of their lives. Theyre often surprised when I say this, but its true.

Ive had patients tell me, I used to have high blood pressure, but I took this medicine for a while, and it went away, so I stopped taking it. Or some patients tell me, I need to take my blood pressure medicine only when Im feeling bad.

High blood pressure medication isnt like the antibiotics you take for a couple of weeks to get over an infection. Theres no magic pill or quick fix for hypertension.;If you stop taking your blood pressure medicine, the control you have over your high blood pressure will go away.

You didnt get high blood pressure overnight. You wont be able to lower it overnight, either. But if you work with your doctor to create a treatment plan, you can successfully lower your blood pressure and your risk for heart disease.

If you have a family history of heart disease or are concerned about your heart health,;request an appointment;with a doctor and ask to have your blood pressure checked.

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