According to a Harvard study, having hypertension can increase your risk of stroke by 220%. Sit quietly in a chair for a few minutes before measuring, then make sure your arm is supported and your elbow is at about heart level as you run the test. They tend to be more accurate than those that work on your wrist or finger.ĭon’t drink caffeine or smoke for at least 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure. Since blood pressure can vary so much, if you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension you may want to monitor your blood pressure at home.Ĭhoose a home blood pressure monitor that wraps around your upper arm. It will typically spike if you’re exercising or running late for a meeting, for example, and drop when you’re sleeping or relaxing with loved ones. Your blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day, with lots of ups and downs. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology define high blood pressure, or hypertension, as 130/80 or above (a systolic reading of at least 130 mm Hg or a diastolic reading of at least 80 mm Hg, or both). The systolic number is recorded first, with an ideal blood pressure reading being below 120/80 (expressed as “120 over 80”). The lower number, or diastolic blood pressure, is measured as your heart relaxes between beats.
The higher number, or systolic blood pressure, is measured as your heart pumps blood into your arteries.Measuring blood pressureīlood pressure is measured as millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)-a holdover from the traditional mercury gauges used by the medical industry-and has two components: In many cases, simple lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on your numbers and help protect both your heart and brain health. While hypertension is very common, the good news is that it’s also very easy to rectify. In fact, nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure. Since new guidelines released in 2017 lowered the threshold for what should be considered high blood pressure, more and more of us find ourselves at risk. Changing your lifestyle to address high blood pressure can help to improve your mental health-and vice versa. High blood pressure and common mental health problems can often be attributed, at least in part, to the same unhealthy lifestyle factors, such as overwhelming, stress, poor diet, and a lack of exercise.Even isolating yourself from family and friends-a common symptom of depression and anxiety-can push your blood pressure higher and damage your cardiovascular health.Self-medicating your mood with alcohol, nicotine, junk food, or recreational drugs can also elevate your blood pressure.Stress can increase the body’s production of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol which in turn raises blood pressure.And just as blood pressure may have an impact your mood, the reverse can also be true:
Being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease can also take an emotional toll, affecting your outlook and making you more susceptible to anxiety and depression. High blood pressure (or “hypertension”) has been shown to damage the tiny blood vessels in the parts of your brain responsible for cognition and memory, greatly increasing your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. If blood doesn’t flow easily, it can harm your arteries as well as vital organs such as the kidneys, eyes, and brain. Since all parts of your body rely on circulation, though, it’s not just your heart that high blood pressure can impact. The higher the number, the harder your heart is having to work to pump blood around your body and the more likely it is that damage is being done to the heart muscle. High blood pressure is rightly known as “the silent killer.” It often carries no symptoms or warning signs but can drastically increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. There’s a reason why your blood pressure is taken every time you visit a doctor’s office or hospital, regardless of the complaint that brought you there. Blood pressure and the heart-head connection But these 5 steps can help you lower your blood pressure and protect your health. Illness & disability Blood Pressure and Your Brain High blood pressure (hypertension) can impact your brain as well as your heart.
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