High Blood Pressure in Elderly
What is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when your blood pressure rises to unhealthy levels. Blood pressure is often defined as the pressure of blood against the inner walls of your arteries. Blood pressure keeps on fluctuating throughout the day-reducing and rising based on your activities. It may increase while you are stressed, excited, or exercising. Your health might be at risk if your resting blood pressure rises too high as it can weaken the blood vessels, which can increase the chances of heart attacks, heart failures, kidney problems, vision loss, dementia, and other health issues.
What are the reasons for high blood pressure in old age?
Causes of high blood pressure may vary from person to person as per their daily habits. People may be at increased risk of hypertension if they smoke, are overweight, eat a low fiber diet, intake high volumes of fat and salt, consume alcohol, are stressed, or don’t follow exercise schedules.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
One of the most common things about high blood pressure is people don’t realize they have it unless it gets severe. Surveys have found that nearly 1/3rd of people who have high blood pressure don’t know they have it. Going for regular health checkups is the best way to monitor your blood pressure. One can also measure their blood pressure at home using portable BP monitors.
Common symptoms of high blood pressure in the elderly:
- Severe headaches
- Fatigue or confusion
- Chest pain
- Irregular heartbeat
- Improper vision
- Difficulty in breathing
- Nosebleed
- Pounding in chest, neck, or ears
It is important to see a doctor if you experience any of the symptoms leading to hypertension as the untreated condition may lead to serious health problems, including heart diseases, eye problems, and kidney failure.
How to prevent high blood pressure in the elderly?
One can keep the blood pressure levels controlled by following a healthy lifestyle. Preventing high blood pressure can lower the risk of heart diseases and stroke. It is important to follow some of the preventive measures to defeat hypertension.
- Eat healthy
- Exercise regularly
- Lose weight
- Reduce alcohol consumption
- Quit smoking
Prevention is better than cure, so it is essential to follow the preventive measures to stay healthy. Managing stress is also suggested as one of the essential measures to prevent high blood pressure in the elderly as it leads to an increased heartbeat, which constricts the blood vessels causing the blood pressure to rise.
It is always recommended to consult a doctor if the preventive measures don’t seem of much help to you.
How does high blood pressure affect your body?
Hypertension is a condition that does not become evident but causes damage to the body for years before the symptoms become obvious.
Read below to know about the effects of high blood pressure on your body.
- Increased heart problems
- Damaged arteries
- Poor brain health
High blood pressure makes the heart work harder and pump faster, which increases the risk for heart failure, heart attack, sudden cardiac death, and arrhythmias.
An increased blood pressure poses serious risks to arteries as it makes them tighter, less elastic, and tougher. Damaged arteries can lead to blockages, heart attack, and stroke.
Untreated hypertension may lead to memory disorders and loss inability to learn, speak, recall, and reason. Treating high blood pressure does not reverse the effects of uncontrolled hypertension but helps lower the risks associated with it.
Summing Up
Symptoms in high blood pressure are not always apparent. Which is why it becomes essential for the elderly to monitor their blood pressure at regular intervals. Living with hypertension can make your daily medication and lifestyle changes challenging. Doctors suggest preventing hypertension is essential because it can lead to heart problems and other health issues if left untreated and uncontrolled.
