What you need to know about high blood pressure

James Ampadu, MD

Cardiology

You may have been told you have high blood pressure but feel fine. So, what’s the big deal? When blood pressure is high, stress is added to your heart and other organs. This can be dangerous. Having long-standing high blood pressure that isn’t treated can put you at risk for stroke and heart attack and raise other health concerns.

Cardiologist James Ampadu, MD, explained the risk factors for high blood pressure and the treatment options that can help.

What factors put you at risk for high blood pressure?

“While some risk factors are out of your control, others are lifestyle choices that can be adjusted for less risk,” said Dr. Ampadu.

Risk factors for high blood pressure, include:

• Family history. If mom, dad or someone else in your family has a history of high blood pressure, you have an increased risk yourself.
• Age. As you age, the risk of developing high blood pressure increases.
• Sex. It is more common for men to have high blood pressure than women.
• Chronic kidney disease. Your kidneys play a role in keeping your blood pressure regulated. Diseased kidneys can’t perform this role well.
• Smoking. Tobacco use increases inflammation and inhibits the vascular system, veins and arteries.
• Diabetes. High blood sugar can increase the inflammation in your arteries.
• Obesity. Being overweight can cause stress on the blood vessels.
• Drinking alcohol. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can affect your blood pressure. The American Heart Association suggests limits of one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
• Lack of exercise. Being sedentary can harm your blood pressure; 150 minutes per week of moderately intense aerobic activity is recommended.
• Sleep apnea. This is a sleep disorder where you are not getting adequate oxygen into your body while sleeping. Sleep apnea can cause long-term damage and needs to be diagnosed through a sleep study. It is important to talk to your primary care doctor if you are not getting restful sleep.
• Certain medications. Be aware of a group of medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These are medications like ibuprofen and aspirin. It’s okay to take these medications as you need them, but if you take them regularly it can increase your chance of having high blood pressure.
• High sodium intake. Eating a sodium-rich diet can cause you to retain more fluid, adding more stress to your heart.

How is high blood pressure treated?

Treatment options for high blood pressure include:

• Dietary changes
• Weight loss
• Medications
• Sleep study

“High blood pressure can be prevented in many ways and even treated with lifestyle changes,” said Dr. Ampadu. “It is important for your overall health to know and understand your blood pressure numbers and to see your doctor regularly.”