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HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure can raise red flags for certain ailments such as kidney disease and diabetes. The higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk for heart attack or stroke. This is because high blood pressure wreaks havoc on your heart muscles and arteries and makes them less elastic. When your arteries aren’t flexible, blood and oxygen have a difficult time getting where they need to go.
Less flexible arteries can also burst or become blocked which causes strokes. As we all know, a stroke can lead to lifelong debilitations and can very well be fatal.
According to the CDC, “Many people with high blood pressure can lower their blood pressure into a healthy range or keep their numbers in a healthy range by making lifestyle changes.”
LOW BLOOD PRESSURE
When it comes to low blood pressure, it can certainly indicate, or lead to other health challenges. That being said, low blood pressure can be normal for some people. If this has been the normal, and it has been discussed with a medical professional, it might be okay. If you haven’t had this discussion with your doctor, the best time when it comes to heart issues is always right now.
A sudden drop in blood pressure, or even general low blood pressure, might indicate other serious medical conditions. It might mean certain organs aren’t getting the blood and oxygen they need. It can also place you at risk for a heart attack or even a stroke.
TREATMENT
How is low blood pressure treated? According to NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, ”You may not need treatment for low blood pressure. Depending on your symptoms, treatment may include drinking more fluids to prevent dehydration, taking medicines to raise your blood pressure, or adjusting medicines that cause low blood pressure.”
For high blood pressure, your doctor will be a big help in making a plan to get these numbers lower. The plan might involve medication, exercise, a change in diet or, likely, any combination of this and other heart-healthy recommendations.
MONITOR
This is why we created the blood pressure chart, and the information is from the American Heart Association. You can see their chart here.
You can get an at-home blood pressure test kit and check your numbers yourself. It’s a good idea to periodically check in on your heart. As with anything, catching issues like this early can certainly help head off health issues before they become more serious.