Disorders caused by high blood pressure are facts you should know to enable you to take preventive care measures against full-blown health issues and premature death.
One of the conditions that can lead to premature death is high blood pressure (hypertension). It is called the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms. And since you cannot cure high blood pressure, it is important that you control it by keeping it below 120/80 mm Hg. But the good news is that high blood pressure is determined by personal health habits. These are behaviors that you can change.
Aside from that, the major reason why you need to keep your high blood pressure under control is to help you avoid the disorders caused by high blood pressure in the first place. These serious disorders are listed below:
Stroke
High blood pressure is the top cause of stroke. There are two types:
- Hemorrhagic: A weakened artery bursts in the brain.
- Ischemic: A clump, or “clot,” of plaque that comes loose and blocks blood flow to brain cells.
Part of your brain starts to die when it doesn’t get enough blood. This can hurt your ability to think, move, speak, and see. For symptoms, remember FAST:
- Face drooping
- Arm weakness
- Speech problems
- Time to call the doctor.
Artery Damage
Your arteries should be able to move blood easily from your heart and lungs to your organs and other tissues. But what high blood pressure does is push too hard on your artery walls. In turn, this damages the inside and causes fat, or “plaque,” to collect. That plaque makes your arteries stiffer and narrower. As such, unable to do their job effectively.
Aneurysm
It’s when pressure pushes out a section of an artery wall and weakens it. So, a broken artery can bleed into your body which is a serious condition. While it’s possible in an artery, it’s most common in your aorta. But the fact is that if you have a damaged artery, you could get an aneurysm even if you don’t have high blood pressure.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
CAD happens when plaque builds up in arteries close to your heart. This slows blood flow, which can bring chest pain or a strange heart rhythm (called an arrhythmia). But a total blockage can cause a heart attack.
Heart Attack
When enough plaque builds up, or a clump of it comes loose, to completely block an artery to your heart, it can cause a heart attack. The blockage starves the heart muscle of oxygen and nutrients. That can hurt or destroy it.
You usually feel pressure or pain in your chest, but sometimes in your arm, neck, or jaw too. It might be hard to breathe, and you could be dizzy or nauseated.
Get immediate medical attention if you have any of these warning signs.
Heart Failure
High blood pressure can cause your arteries to narrow. Over time, that can make your heart work harder and get weaker. Eventually, it gets so weak that it can’t supply enough blood to the rest of the body. This is heart failure.
Enlarged Heart
As it works harder to move blood around, the muscle of your heart thickens. As a result, your whole heart gets larger. The bigger it gets, the less able it is to do its job, which means your tissues might not get the oxygen and nutrients they need.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
PAD is like CAD, but it affects blood vessels farther from your heart, like those in your arms, legs, head, or stomach. You might have pain or cramps in your legs, often when you walk or climb stairs. It can also make you tired. The pain may go away when you rest and come back when you move. Left untreated, PAD could bring more serious problems like stroke, ulcers, and loss of circulation in your legs, which can cause amputation.
Dementia
High blood pressure can cause plaque buildup in arteries that supply your brain. The clogging of those arteries can slow the flow of blood to the rest of your body. When it changes the way your brain works, it’s called “vascular dementia.”
It might affect how well you think, speak, see, remember, or even the way you move. This usually happens slowly over time. But if you have a stroke, you could notice symptoms very quickly.
Kidney Failure
High blood pressure is the second-leading cause of kidney failure. It narrows and hardens the blood vessels your kidneys use to help get rid of waste and extra fluid. That keeps special filters, called nephrons, from getting enough blood and nutrients. That can eventually shut down your kidneys for good.
Sleep Apnea
This makes your throat muscles relax too much and stops your breathing briefly, but repeatedly, as you sleep. High blood pressure seems to cause sleep apnea, which in turn appears to raise blood pressure. Work with your doctor to treat both conditions as soon as you can. It may prevent other health problems.
Preventive Care Measures
Emphasis is now on a combination of a healthy diet and lifestyle to prevent disorders caused by high blood pressure. The best way to manage high blood pressure and cardiovascular risk is to combine physical activity with heart-healthy eating habits. A healthy lifestyle that involves weight and stress management, adequate sleep, and positive motivation will help keep your heart in good shape. However, these healthy options must be maintained on a long-term basis.
Finally, lifestyle changes are always preferable to high blood pressure drugs. In fact, some research has shown that losing weight (if you are too heavy) and eating less sodium may lower blood pressure more effectively among people ages 60–80 than younger people.
5 Secrets That Can Stop Heart Attack
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