By Staff Writer
Reaching your 50s and beyond comes with the possibility of new health issues and their related consequences; high blood pressure is one of them. Increased blood pressure can be a significant cause of concern as it can lead to numerous severe health risks. However, seniors are comparatively more prone to high blood pressure, signifying substantial changes in performing work or tasks as they used to do before.
According to heart experts, seniors have a 70% chance of high blood pressure, accompanied by several chronic heart diseases. If you feel significant body changes with the passing years or have a loved one entering their senior years, take preventive measures against this silent-killing disease immediately.
What is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the blood force that pushes against the artery wall while entering and exiting the heart. There are commonly two ways to measure blood pressure:
1. Systolic blood pressure: The number of times your heart contracts and releases the blood outside the walls.
2. Diastolic blood pressure: The frequency at which your heart relaxes and fills up the blood inside the heart.
High Blood Pressure in Seniors
However, it would not be the whole story to say that high blood pressure or hypertension only develops because of aging, as several more factors are related to this condition. A recommended blood pressure for men and women over 65 years should preferably be lower than 130/80 mm Hg. Thus, you should have regular doctor visits to maintain balanced blood pressure or quickly rush to get medical aid if your blood pressure increases.
Cause of High Blood Pressure
As a person gets older, the vascular system changes, such as narrowing or stiffness of the arteries’ wall, lower functioning of the circulatory system, etc. Besides, there are also some other major causes of high blood pressure in seniors –
- Stress and anxiety
- Poor sleep and eating habits
- High alcohol consumption
- Less physical exercise
- Excessive smoking
As a result, all these factors influence your heart’s efficiency and smoothly impede blood transportation throughout the body.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
Some of the more common symptoms of high blood pressure may be unfamiliar to most people. Therefore, it is essential to speak to your health care professional if you experience any of the following symptoms regularly.
- Shortness of breath
- Poor eyesight
- Chronic kidney problems
- Dizziness
- Severe headache
Common Treatments for High Blood Pressure
Treating high blood pressure in seniors may take some time, but it is possible to reduce and or reverse this condition if one adopts a good and healthy lifestyle. You will not experience instant results, but you must be patient as it is vitally important to your general wellness to get rid of this chronic health issue.
These are some approaches that individuals can use to counteract high blood pressure:
- Avoid excessive oil or fats
- Do regular exercise
- Quit smoking
- Cut down on sugar and salt intake
- Get enough quality sleep
- Minimize stress
Prevention
It is vital to ensure regular checkups with your healthcare provider and monitor their blood pressure regularly. Also, follow the steps outlined for treatment by your doctor and make whatever changes to habits are needed to improve the condition accordingly.
You can easily avoid hypertension or manage your blood pressure by choosing a healthy lifestyle. This can be achieved by being intentional about pursuing a quality way of living, choosing a nutritious diet, paying attention to your mental well-being, having smart fitness goals, and opting for a stress-free life as much as possible.
Conclusion
If you are currently suffering from high blood pressure or see the symptoms, do not ignore them. Monitor your heart health both at home and through your health care provider to bring your blood pressure under control in a significantly short time.
