Source: clevelandjewishnews.com<\/p>\n
Referred to as the \u201csilent killer,\u201d high blood pressure can affect anyone. But, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services\u2019 National Institute on Aging, age is a common cause.<\/p>\n
According to Courtney Catherine, admissions director at Landerbrook Transitional Care in Mayfield Heights, and Dr. David Gutman, founder of Cleveland Nutrition in Beachwood, high blood pressure in older individuals stems from many causes, including lifestyle choices.<\/p>\n
\u201cHigh blood pressure does not occur overnight \u2013 it occurs because of prolonged damage to blood vessels,\u201d Gutman explained. \u201cBlood pressure increases because blood vessels get stiff. They\u2019re supposed to be elastic and stretch out to accommodate blood when your heart pumps and recoils when your heart takes a break. You have to have elastic arteries for that to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
But when they become stiff, Gutman said, they don\u2019t dilate correctly, which is what causes blood pressure to rise. According to the American Heart Association, one has high blood pressure when the first number reads 130 and the second is 80 or higher.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is because cholesterol plaque buildup in the arteries becomes calcified and stiff,\u201d Gutman said. \u201cThat tends to take a while, and that\u2019s why elderly individuals have it more than young people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Catherine said lifestyle choices can add to one\u2019s chances of developing high blood pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of which is smoking,\u201d she said. \u201cAnother is a diet high in salts. And a lot of times, if they have been eating a certain diet their whole life, it\u2019s harder to change when they\u2019re 75 or 80 years old. Other chronic conditions can cause high blood pressure as well, such as a kidney or hormone problem, as well as general family history.\u201d<\/p>\n
When someone is experiencing high blood pressure, Gutman said it generally goes on unnoticed since there aren\u2019t any major symptoms.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt causes damage to organs but it\u2019s unrecognized until the tipping point,\u201d he said. \u201cBut high blood pressure does increase the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack, heart failure, heart arrhythmias, kidney failure, eye problems like blindness and even dementia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Catherine noted some physical symptoms may occur that one wouldn\u2019t immediately associate with a blood pressure problem, like a pounding feeling in their chest, a feeling of lightheadedness or dizziness.<\/p>\n
With a condition like high blood pressure, Catherine said it\u2019s important to keep an eye on one\u2019s health. That starts in knowing how to manage it.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing we do when we are getting ready to discharge residents after therapy is make sure they are already on their blood pressure medications and that it\u2019s good,\u201d she said. \u201cAlso, if you\u2019re able to have a blood pressure monitor at home, that\u2019s great. But, if not, we can do free blood pressure checks when needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having an at-home monitor allows individuals to self check, Catherine said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to do it many times to establish a baseline and to get that average,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
Gutman also said medications are an important treatment option, but stressed the importance of keeping track of the side effects.<\/p>\n
\u201cMedications themselves have a lot of side effects that can be very serious,\u201d he noted. \u201cAnd most people have to be on many medications, so they have even more side effects. The reason is that pills aren\u2019t addressing the underlying problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to medication, individuals should consider diet and exercise changes to help manage their blood pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlongside medications, it would mean completely changing what you\u2019re eating,\u201d Gutman suggested. \u201cIf you\u2019re still eating what you always have, the disease will progress no matter what pills you throw at it. Consider cutting out salt and reducing animal products.\u201d<\/p>\n
But for any health condition, management and recovery is not a straight line. It\u2019s different for everyone, the professionals said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not going to fix blood pressure problems overnight,\u201d Catherine said. \u201cIt\u2019s more of a journey. But if you believe you have high blood pressure, make an appointment with your doctor and get their opinion. It\u2019s worth trying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gutman noted, \u201c(Changing your lifestyle) may come across as extreme, but that\u2019s the challenge. You have to decide what is important to you. At the end of the day, (patients) have to make a decision. It doesn\u2019t have to be all or nothing, but the more they can make the shift, the better the outcome will be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2586,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[2240,692,2239,298,2241],"class_list":["post-2585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heart-care","tag-blood-pressure-medication","tag-healthcare","tag-heart-attect","tag-high-blood-pressure","tag-slient-killer"],"yoast_head":"\n