Diabetes And High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is twice as likely to strike a person with diabetes than a person without diabetes. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke. In fact, a person with diabetes and high blood pressure is four times as likely to develop heart disease than someone who does not have either of the conditions. About two-thirds of adults with diabetes have blood pressure greater than 130/80 mm Hg or use prescription medications for hypertension.
The Brain Connection
Hypertension in midlife could affect late-life thinking skills. Discover what Johns Hopkins researchers know about the connection, plus ways to keep your blood pressure under control and your brain at its best.
Can High Blood Pressure Be Prevented Or Avoided
If your high blood pressure is caused by lifestyle factors, you can take steps to reduce your risk:
- Lose weight.
- Reduce your alcohol consumption.
- Learn relaxation methods.
If your high blood pressure is caused by disease or the medicine you take, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Additionally, treating any underlying disease can help reduce your high blood pressure.
Blood Pressure And Tinnitus
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There are many different ways tinnitus can be caused, from exposure to loud noise to medications. What many people dont know is your blood pressure can play a huge part in the severity of tinnitus symptoms. Tinnitus is diagnosed when there is a ringing, buzzing or static sound in the ear that a person hears constantly. It can be affected by stress or ones emotional state or health. Considering the close proximity to the brain and the immense amounts of blood flowing in and out of the head and this area, it is no wonder that high blood pressure can affect ones hearing causing hearing loss or tinnitus and affecting the degree and severity at times depending on the severity of the blood pressure.
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Keep Yourself At A Healthy Weight
Having overweight or obesity increases your risk for high blood pressure. To determine whether your weight is in a healthy range, doctors often calculate your body mass index . If you know your weight and height, you can calculate your BMI at CDCs Assessing Your Weight website. Doctors sometimes also use waist and hip measurements to assess body fat.
Talk with your health care team about ways to reach a healthy weight, including choosing healthy foods and getting regular physical activity.
But What Does High Blood Pressure Have To Do With Tinnitus
Can there be a connection between hypertension and tinnitus? Yes, and it is significant.
When a person has high blood pressure, there is an increased pressure on the walls of the blood vessels that carry blood to the inner ears.
In some cases this may cause ringing or buzzing in the ears. In these circumstances the patients tinnitus is described as pulsatile, since it corresponds to the heartbeat. Therefore high blood pressure is the main cause of pulsatile tinnitus.
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Wrong Medication Or Wrong Dose
For each person theres an ideal combination of medications and dosages that would best control their hypertension. Some people havent yet received that ideal combination. Its important to work with a doctor who is familiar with the range of medications and who knows what works best for each individual.
Does High Blood Pressure Cause Tinnitus
Tinnitus has an undeniable connection with the blood vessels in the body, which means that blood pressure can have a real impact on this condition. High blood pressure is also referred to as hypertension and it can be dangerous if it is left unchecked. Those who have high blood pressure are more at risk for developing tinnitus. A majority of people who develop tinnitus as a result of their high blood pressure usually complain of a pulsating noise in their ears.
The reason that someone with high blood pressure might perceive this pulsating-like noise is because of the unique rhythmic flow as well as how the heart beats. Pulsatile tinnitus is quite common for those with high blood pressure and there are a number of factors which can contribute to hypertension.
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Other Causes Of Tinnitus
It ought to be noted that not only high pressure causes tinnitus. different vessel disorders will cause the ringing-in-your-ears sensation, as well as atherosclerosis, that could be a build from cholesterol and different deposits over time within the vessels. As we age, the vessels tend to not flex and expand as they ought to thus alongside these buildups cause restrictive, however additional forceful blood flow that is definitely picked up within the ear.
Head or neck trauma will cause pressure on the vessels within the head or ear, inflicting tinnitus. Malformation of the capillaries is once theres an abnormal connection between the arteries so the|and also the} veins that therefore will cause tinnitus also called arteriovenous malformation . Finally, turbulent blood flow once the neck artery or veins are kinked or narrows inflicting an irregular blood flow to the top can even cause tinnitus.
If theres any kind of ringing or buzzing or noise in your ear that you just feel shouldnt be there see your hearing health professional or your family doctor to have them check it out as a result of it may be telling you additional concerning your body and general health than you recognize.
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Learning To Cope With Stress Can Help
Stress and hypertension have often been linked, but researchers are still looking into a direct relationship between the two. Still, the best advice to hypertensive patients: Try to relax.
When you are stressed, your body sends stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream. These hormones create a temporary spike in blood pressure, causing your heart to beat faster and blood vessels to narrow. When the stressful situation is over, blood pressure goes back to its normal level.
Chronic stress, however, may cause your body to stay in this highly-charged state longer than natural.
While stress itself may or may not affect blood pressure, how you cope with stress does. For instance, overeating, smoking and drinking alcohol in response to stressful situations are direct causes of sustained high blood pressure. On the flip side, healthier coping mechanisms like exercising, practicing yoga and meditating can all help lower blood pressure.
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How Is Blood Pressure Measured
Health care providers measure blood pressure with a cuff that wraps around the upper arm. When the cuff inflates, it squeezes a large artery, stopping the blood flow for a moment. Blood pressure is measured as air is slowly let out of the cuff, which lets blood flow through the artery again.
Blood pressure is measured in two numbers:
You hear blood pressure reported as the first number “over” the second number, like 120 over 80 or 120/80.
Can Lead Cause High Blood Pressure
Is it true that after menopause lead from thinning bones causes high blood pressure in women? If so, what can you do about it?
Andrew Weil, M.D. | April 30, 2003
Weve long known that lead from environmental sources air pollution, water, paint can accumulate in bone over time, and a few years ago research showed that lead exposure was associated with high blood pressure among men. Other research has shown that lead in bones can enter into the bloodstream during pregnancy and can be linked with decreased cognitive development of the infants born to these moms. Results of a study published in the March 26, 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association have linked lead from thinning bones to high blood pressure among post-menopausal women. The study involved 2,165 women aged 40 to 59 who were surveyed between 1988 and 1994. Those with the highest levels of lead in their blood were 40 percent more likely to have high blood pressure than those with the lowest blood-levels of lead.
The researchers said that the highest levels averaged 6.4 micrograms per deciliter. Thats worrisome because it is below the governments level of concern for childhood lead exposure of 10 micrograms per deciliter. The lead in the womens bones presumably got there years earlier due to environmental exposure and remained there harmlessly, perhaps for decades. Lead linked to high blood pressure in men stemmed mostly from occupational exposure.
Andrew Weil, M.D.
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You Don’t Know Your Numbers
If you don’t check your blood pressure, you won’t know if there’s a potential problem. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that 13 million people in the United States are not aware that they have hypertension and therefore are not making lifestyle changes or taking medication to help control it.
How Do I Know If I Have High Blood Pressure
Theres only one way to know if you have high blood pressure: Have a doctor or other health professional measure it. Measuring your blood pressure is quick and painless.
Talk with your health care team about regularly measuring your blood pressure at home, also called self-measured blood pressure monitoring.
High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it.
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High Blood Pressure And Older Adults
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High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major health problem that is common in older adults. Your bodys network of blood vessels, known as the vascular system, changes with age. Arteries get stiffer, causing blood pressure to go up. This can be true even for people who have heart-healthy habits and feel just fine. High blood pressure, sometimes called “the silent killer,” often does not cause signs of illness that you can see or feel. Though it affects nearly half of all adults, many may not even be aware they have it.
If high blood pressure isn’t controlled with lifestyle changes and medication, it can lead to serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease such as heart disease and stroke, vascular dementia, eye problems, and kidney disease. The good news is that blood pressure can be controlled in most people.
What Medications Are Used To Treat High Blood Pressure
Four classes of high blood pressure medications are considered first line when starting treatment. Sometimes other medications are coupled with these first-line drugs to better control your high blood pressure. First-line, pressure-lowering medications are:
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors block the production of the angiotensin II hormone, which the body naturally uses to control blood pressure. When angiotensin II is blocked, your blood vessels dont narrow. Examples: lisinopril , enalapril or captopril.
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers block this same hormone from binding with receptors in the blood vessels. ARBs work the same way as ACE inhibitors to keep blood vessels from narrowing. Examples: metoprolol , valsartan or losartan.
- Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of your heart and blood vessels, allowing these vessels to relax. Examples: amlodipine , nifedipine , diltiazem .
- Diuretics flush excess sodium from your body, reducing the amount of fluid in your blood. Diuretics are often used with other high blood pressure medicines, sometimes in one combined pill. Examples: indapamide, hydrochlorothiazide or chlorothiazide.
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High Blood Pressure Symptoms
High blood pressure is oftentimes referred to as the silent killer because there can be little to no symptoms present. However, once your blood pressure becomes very high, symptoms can begin to manifest. These high blood pressure symptoms can include:
- Fatigue Irregular heartbeats Shortness of breath
Blood spots in the eyes and facial flushing are also commonly reported symptoms of patients with high blood pressure, though its considered inconclusive whether these two symptoms are directly related to high blood pressure. The force and friction of high blood pressure damage delicate tissues within the arteries and organs. This then also leads to bad cholesterol which eventually leads to a plaque on the walls of your arteries.
Blood pressure is measured by comparing the systolic blood pressure, the pressure of the blood vessels during a heartbeat, and the diastolic blood pressure, or the pressure in your blood vessels during rest in-between.
Risks Of High Blood Pressure
If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes.
Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as:
- have a relative with high blood pressure
- are of black African or black Caribbean descent
- live in a deprived area
Making healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if it’s already high.
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What Is Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is called diastolic pressure.
Your blood pressure reading uses these two numbers. Usually the systolic number comes before or above the diastolic number. For example, 120/80 means a systolic of 120 and a diastolic of 80.
Medicines Can Cause Hearing Loss
In the US, there are more than 200 medicines on the market, both prescription and over-the-counter, that can cause hearing loss, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association .
Ototoxic medications used to treat serious infections, cancer and heart disease can cause hearing loss. The medications are especially used among the elderly who typically take more medication and for longer periods.
Hearing loss caused by medication occurs when the medications damage the sensory cells of the cochlea in the inner ear.
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If You Suspect Youre Having A Heart Attack
Pain or pressure in the chest is the most common symptom of a heart attack. However, pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck or jaw can also be a sign and so can shortness of breath, nausea or light-headedness. If you experience one or more of these warning signs, CALL 911 immediately, even if youre not sure its a heart attack. EMS staff can begin treatment when they arrive up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. People with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too.
Dont let high blood pressure cause a heart attack:
What Are The Different Types Of High Blood Pressure
There are two main types of high blood pressure: primary and secondary high blood pressure.:
- Primary, or essential, high blood pressure is the most common type of high blood pressure. For most people who get this kind of blood pressure, it develops over time as you get older.
- Secondary high blood pressure is caused by another medical condition or use of certain medicines. It usually gets better after you treat that condition or stop taking the medicines that are causing it.
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Set Weight Loss Goals
If your doctor has recommended you lose weight, talk with them about an optimal weight loss goal for you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a weight loss goal of one to two pounds a week. This can be achieved through a more nutritious diet and increased physical exercise.
Employing the help of a trainer or fitness app, and possibly even a dietician, are all methods to help you learn how to make the best choices for your body and your lifestyle.
How Can I Control My Blood Pressure
You can often lower your blood pressure by changing your day-to-day habits and by taking medication if needed. Treatment, especially if you have other medical conditions such as diabetes, requires ongoing evaluation and discussions with your doctor.
Lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent and lower high blood pressure:
In addition to recommending lifestyle changes, your doctor will likely prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure to a safe level. Isolated systolic hypertension, the most common form of high blood pressure in older adults, is treated in the same way as regular high blood pressure but may require more than one type of blood pressure medication. You may try several kinds or combinations of medications before finding a plan that works best for you. Medication can control your blood pressure, but it can’t cure it. If your doctor starts you on medication for high blood pressure, you may need to take it long-term.
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What Are The Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure
Most people who have high blood pressure do not have symptoms. This is why its sometimes called the silent killer. It is very important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.
Some people experience headaches, nosebleeds, or shortness of breath with high blood pressure. However, those symptoms can mimic many other things . Usually, these symptoms occur once blood pressure has reached a dangerously high level over a period of time.