May is Hypertension Awareness Month.
The usual suspects affect blood pressure, including obesity, genetics, stress, salt intake, smoking, and alcohol. But did you know that there are also unexpected aspects?
For some people, it is a cold medicine. We all know that decongestants are great for clearing stuffy noses, but they can also increase blood pressure by making blood flow more difficult.
It turns out that blood pressure can be influenced by many factors. Ironically, just going to see your health care provider (HCP) for a blood pressure check can cause your levels to rise, also known as “white coat syndrome.”
This is where your blood pressure spikes or is generally nothing to worry about, but chronic high blood pressure can be fatal. This is especially important for women to note, as nearly half of all women in the United States have high blood pressure and less than one in four have it under control.
What is high blood pressure and how serious is it?
High blood pressure, also known as high blood pressure, is a serious chronic disease that affects 120 million people in the United States. “This represents almost half of the population in the United States,” said Dr. Michelle Kelsey, a general cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine.
High blood pressure is when pressure is consistently too high, causing the force of the blood to push against the artery walls. “This causes the heart to work harder to pump blood, which over time can lead to heart attack, stroke, or other serious health conditions,” Kelsey explained.
“Hypertension is often called the ‘silent killer.’ For most people, it has no symptoms, but it really needs to be checked,” Kelsey said.
Here are 5 surprising facts that can increase your blood pressure:
1. dehydration – Missing a glass of water once in a while is not a big deal. However, if you continue to move your body on an empty stomach, your blood pressure may initially drop. “You feel dizzy and dizzy, while your body tries to compensate by compressing your blood vessels and holding on to salt,” Kelsey explains. Over time, this can lead to high blood pressure.
2. sleep apnea – Sleep apnea occurs when your breathing starts and stops while you sleep at night. This interferes with your ability to get restorative sleep and reduces your oxygen intake. Sleep apnea can be caused by living with overweight or obesity (which can be a risk factor for high blood pressure itself) or by structural problems that block the airway when you breathe. “When oxygen levels drop, it puts stress on the body, which can lead to high blood pressure,” Kelsey said.
3. chronic pain – Similar to how stress can increase blood pressure, chronic pain also causes stress in the body and triggers an adrenaline response that over time can lead to full-blown high blood pressure. One study found that people with chronic widespread pain had a 75% increased risk of high blood pressure, while those with short-term pain had a 10% higher risk.
4. loneliness – Social stressors such as social isolation and loneliness can increase stress and contribute to the development of high blood pressure. One study of adults aged 45 to 85 found that women who were single and had limited social activity had higher-than-average blood pressure. And if you have high blood pressure, not having someone to check on you or drive you to appointments can make the problem worse, Kelsey says.
5. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – Taking ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) daily may seem harmless, but it may increase your blood pressure. NSAIDs inhibit the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme, causing sodium and water to retain in the kidneys, reduce blood flow, and narrow blood vessels.
Consult your healthcare provider
It is important to track your blood pressure. The risk of high blood pressure increases with age, so you could be walking around with high levels that increase your risk of heart attack and stroke and not know it.
Your health care provider can assess your risk and check your blood pressure regularly to see if you need medication or lifestyle changes. “Knowing your numbers can be empowering,” Kelsey said.
