Americans over age 50 are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure and it’s subsequent health problems. Yet, over half of the people in that age group don’t even know their blood pressure reading. This could be dangerous, since someone can have hypertension (the medical term for high blood pressure) without feeling sick.
High blood pressure can cause heart failure, kidney disease, stroke, eye problems, and more. Nearly 90 percent of seniors are aware of the risk of heart disease associated with high blood pressure.
What Affects Blood Pressure?
Many factors affect blood pressure. This can include being overweight, eating too much salt, smoking, having more than one drink of alcohol daily, stress, some medications, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, kidney problems, and a family history of high blood pressure.
While you can't change all of your risk factors for high blood pressure, you can adopt certain lifestyle habits that will help you maintain healthy blood pressure levels:
- Exercise regularly.
- Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lower-fat dairy products, and leaner meats (if you eat meat).
- Limited salt, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, desserts, and candy.
- Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
- Practice relaxation techniques.
- Have your blood pressure checked regularly. Don't wait for symptoms before you take action. You might not experience any before you develop serious problems.
Get Your Pressure Checked
The only way to know for sure if your blood pressure is normal is to have it checked. Even if your blood pressure is in the healthy range (less than 120/80), you should have your blood pressure checked annually. If your doctor tells you your level is high, you should have your blood pressure checked more often. Ask your healthcare provider what he or she recommends for you.
Also, vary the time of day and time of month you have your blood pressure checked.
What If It's High?
Hypertension is a treatable disease. Awareness is the first step. Your doctor will encourage you to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, which may be enough to lower your blood pressure. You might also require medication to lower your blood pressure. If your doctor prescribes medication:
- Ask your doctor about your condition and medication. Make sure you understand why your healthcare provider prescribed this particular medication for you. Before you leave the clinic or office, be sure you know how to take your medicine.
- Take your medication as directed. Don’t vary the time or dose unless your doctor directs you to do so. Don’t stop taking your medicine without the advice of your physician.
- Pay attention to how you feel. If you notice any new symptoms, side effects or reactions (such as tiredness, rash, or nausea), contact your doctor immediately. Do not stop taking your medicine unless you are told to do so by your doctor.
- Check with your doctor and pharmacist before you take any over-the-counter medications. They might interact adversely with your prescription.
Only take medication that is prescribed for you. It’s not safe to share your meds with friends, or for you to use someone else’s prescription. Different people respond in varying ways to the same medication. |
