Risk factors and causes High blood pressure is likelier in people who: -have a family history of high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes. -are not physically active. -are African-American -eat foods that have a high salt content. -drink alcoholic beverages excessively. -are over the age of 55. -are overweight. -smoke. -use certain medications such as NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin, e.g.) and decongestants. With that sort of list, you’d think, Well, I’ll just diet, eat healthy food, and exercise, and I’ll be fine! But the bad news is that in up to 95 percent of U.S. hypertension cases, the underlying cause cannot be determined. Still, the above risk factors are compelling, especially with sodium (salt) intake: people with the most salt intake have the highest incidence of high blood pressure. By contrast, people who add no salt to their food show virtually no traces of high blood pressure. But in a minority of cases, a direct
cause for high blood pressure can be identified. Kidney disease is the top known cause of such cases of secondary hypertension (high blood pressure that is a known symptom of a specific medical cause). It is followed by excessive hormone production by the adrenal glands. Some medications that constrict blood vessels can also cause secondary hypertension. Knowledge is health: what to do Many people with high blood pressure don’t know they have it. That’s why hypertension is also known as a “silent” health threat, because it rarely causes symptoms, even as it inflicts serious damage to the body—and not just heart failure. The good news is that high blood pressure can be controlled. Here’s your first step: get your blood pressure checked regularly. The next bit of good news is that, for most people (especially seniors), blood pressure that gets too high can be stopped from rising most of the time. It can even be brought back down. This is done mostly with lifestyle changes. These changes include: *Keeping a healthy weight—speak to
your doctor about an effective weight plan that suits your specific needs. *Exercising daily—start with modest goals and build up to 30 minutes a day, most weekdays. *Eating healthfully—a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products may help—especially if you cut back on processed foods containing salt, like canned soups and pre-packaged store-bought baked goods. Finally, if lifestyle changes don’t lower blood pressure enough to a safe level, your doctor may also prescribe medications. But the first options are definitely where you want to start! The lowdown bottom line Hypertension in seniors is serious because it can lead to major health problems, even if it doesn’t make you feel sick. So make the time and effort to see your doctor and get your blood pressure checked. Speak to your doctor about a long-term plan to maintain your healthy blood pressure or reduce your numbers if needed. Once you have that, you can rest assured that blood pressure won’t be one of the things in your life reaching new heights.
What Do the Numbers Mean? Systolic (First Number)
Diastolic (Second Number)
Normal Blood Pressure
Less than 120
Less than 80
Prehypertension
Between 120-139
Betweem 80-89
High Blood Pressure
140 or more
90 or more
Isolated Systolic Hypertension
140 or more
Less than 90
Rena Milgraum, R.N. is Director of Patient Services at HamaspikCare, a home-care agency serving seniors and others across New York. She may be reached through the Wellspring.
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