Hypertension is high blood pressure, a very common condition in older adults. Blood pressure is the physical force exerted by blood as it pushes against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure readings are written as two numbers separated by a line. The top number represents systolic blood pressure and the bottom number represents diastolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts to push blood forward. Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes.
Normal blood pressure is below 120/80. High blood pressure ranges from 120/80 to 129/80. High blood pressure or hypertension is currently classified as stage 1 if your systolic reading is between 130 and 139 or your diastolic reading is between 80 and 89. A reading of 140/90 or higher is now considered stage 2 hypertension.
Hypertension is defined as a systolic reading above 180 or a diastolic reading above 120. High blood pressure means that the heart has to work harder to pump blood. High blood pressure can also damage the walls of the arteries. Over time, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke.
High blood pressure is more common in older adults. By age 45, more men have high blood pressure than women. By age 65, this pattern reverses and more women are affected. People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure than people without diabetes. About 60% of people with diabetes also have high blood pressure.
Common Causes of High Blood Pressure
1. Caffeine
Studies have found that caffeine can cause a short-term increase in your blood pressure. The effects of caffeine on the body are usually temporary, sometimes lasting several hours. It can also have a greater effect on people who don’t consume caffeine regularly. Moderating your caffeine intake can help alleviate this, but if you have frequent (or irregular) spikes, there’s no harm in getting it checked.
2. Stress and Anxiety
Emotional stress and anxiety are known to cause spikes in your blood pressure. In stressful situations, your body can produce stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol; your heart beats faster and your blood vessels constrict, causing high blood pressure.
Emotional stress and anxiety are known to cause spikes in your blood pressure. In stressful situations, your body can produce stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol; your heart beats faster and your blood vessels constrict, causing high blood pressure.
3. Smoking
Smoking poses many health risks to you and your loved ones. In the case of blood pressure, smoking can cause a spike because it activates your sympathetic nervous system (SNS). This causes a hormonal response that causes your pulse and blood pressure to increase. If this happens regularly, it can cause long-term damage to your artery walls, putting you at higher risk for various health complications. Even exposure to secondhand smoke can cause a spike in blood pressure.
4. Dietary habits
A lack of certain nutrients or too much of unhealthy foods can cause a spike in blood pressure. Good eating habits can easily prevent these spikes from occurring as often (or at all) and also ensure you eat a balanced and nutritious diet to maintain good health.
5. Lack of exercise
Not exercising puts you at a higher risk of developing a variety of health complications. You may be 30 to 50 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure (and subsequently hypertension) if you don’t exercise. With sedentary office jobs, combined with a lack of time to engage in physical activity, a lack of exercise puts many people at risk of developing long-term health conditions that can become harder to treat as we age.
6. Alcohol
Three drinks are enough to temporarily raise your blood pressure. Meanwhile, drinking too much alcohol can cause your blood pressure to rise over time. Drinking alcohol in moderation is fine, although it’s still a good idea to cut alcohol out of your lifestyle.
7. Pain
When you injure yourself, your blood pressure may rise at the time. The pain you experience causes your body to release hormones that increase your blood pressure. Once the initial shock subsides, your blood pressure will return to normal. Sometimes, acute pain can last for a while and your blood pressure will remain elevated until the pain begins to subside.
8. Dehydration
Our bodies are made up of at least 60 percent water. It is an important component in many bodily functions, from eliminating waste to regulating body temperature. When you become dehydrated, your body releases a chemical called vasopressin. This tells your kidneys to retain water so you don’t lose more. At the same time, it also causes your blood vessels to constrict, which leads to high blood pressure.
Early warning signs of high blood pressure
A high blood pressure reading means your blood pressure is slightly lower than normal, corresponding to a systolic blood pressure of 120 to 129 or a diastolic blood pressure of 80 or below. The new guidelines eliminate the previous category of prehypertension. People with high blood pressure are twice as likely to develop heart disease as people with lower blood pressure. Lifestyle changes can help many people with prehypertension lower their blood pressure.
Factors that increase blood pressure can cause of high blood pressure
Medications such as birth control pills, cold medicines, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers, and some prescription drugs can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure. A buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries (atherosclerosis) can also lead to prehypertension.
Other conditions that can lead to prehypertension include:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Kidney disease
- Adrenal disease
- Thyroid disease
Symptoms of blood pressure
High blood pressure often has no symptoms. The only way to monitor your blood pressure is to see your doctor regularly and have your blood pressure checked.
If your high blood pressure is accompanied by diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease, your doctor may recommend blood pressure medication as well as lifestyle changes. If high blood pressure is your only condition, lifestyle changes can help prevent your blood pressure from rising.
The following lifestyle changes can help lower your blood pressure:
- Lose weight if you are overweight or obese
- Eat a healthy, low-salt diet
- Exercise regularly
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Quit smoking
