How much high blood pressure is dangerous

Elevated blood pressure has a good chance of turning into actual high blood pressure, which puts you at an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. No medications are necessary for elevated blood pressure. But this is when you should adopt healthier lifestyle choices. A balanced diet and regular exercise can help lower your blood pressure to a healthy range and help prevent elevated blood pressure from developing into full-fledged hypertension.

This is considered stage 1 hypertension. However, the AHA notes that if you get only one reading this high, you may not truly have high blood pressure. What determines the diagnosis of hypertension at any stage is the average of your numbers over a period of time. The treatment for adults 65 and older who have significant health problems should be made on a case-by-case basis.

Treating high blood pressure in older adults appears to decrease memory problems and dementia. Stage 2 high blood pressure indicates an even more serious condition. At this stage, your doctor will recommend one or more medications for keeping your blood pressure under control. Lifestyle habits are just as important in stage 2 as they are in the other stages.

Some medications that can complement a healthy lifestyle include:. You should seek emergency treatment if you have blood pressure in this range, which may accompany symptoms such as:. However, sometimes a high reading can occur temporarily and then your numbers will return to normal. If your blood pressure measures at this level, your doctor will likely take a second reading after a few minutes have passed. Even if you have healthy numbers, you should take preventive measures to keep your blood pressure in the normal range.

This can help you lower your risk of developing hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. As you age, prevention becomes even more important. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease , may also play a role. Talk to your doctor about how you can manage your overall health to help prevent the onset of hypertension.

Reduce your sodium intake. Some people are sensitive to the effects of sodium. It is measured in millimeters of mercury mmHg by a gauge attached to a blood pressure cuff. That means that each time the heart contracts, blood is ejected with a force of mmHg. Think of the force of water shooting through a hose when you turn on the spigot.

When the heart relaxes in order to refill, this force drops to 80 mmHg. At this point, your doctor may recommend you try certain lifestyle changes to bring it down. These can include losing weight, exercising and cutting down on salt consumption. Your risk of a cardiovascular event begins to increase exponentially. It may be necessary for you to take one or more medications to bring your pressure down. It indicates something has caused your blood pressure to rise above normal — stress or exercise, for example.

You can have one episode or an occasional episode of high blood pressure. The most common form of hypertension is called primary hypertension. In this case, a doctor will diagnose primary hypertension. Consuming a high fat diet, carrying excess weight, drinking a lot of alcohol, smoking tobacco, and the use of some medications also increase the risk. The doctor will recommend different treatments as blood pressure increases.

For slightly high blood pressure, they may suggest making lifestyle changes and monitoring the blood pressure. If blood pressure is high, they will recommend medication. The options may change over time, according to how severe the hypertension is and whether complications arise, such as kidney disease.

Some people may need a combination of several different medications. Conventional drugs for treating high blood pressure include:. Angiotensin converting enzyme ACE inhibitors block the actions of some hormones that regulate blood pressure, such as angiotensin II.

Angiotensin II causes the arteries to constrict and increases blood volume, resulting in increased blood pressure. ACE inhibitors can reduce the blood supply to the kidneys, making them less effective. As a result, it is necessary for people taking ACE inhibitors to have regular blood tests. If the side effects are persistent or too unpleasant to manage, a doctor may prescribe an angiotensin II receptor antagonist instead. These alternative medications often cause fewer side effects, but they may include dizziness, headaches, and increased potassium levels in the blood.

Calcium channel blockers CCBs aim to decrease calcium levels in the blood vessels. This will relax the vascular smooth muscle, causing the muscle to contract less forcefully, the arteries to widen, and blood pressure to go down.

CCBs may not always be suitable for people with a history of heart disease, liver disease, or circulation issues. Learn more here about calcium channel blockers. Thiazide diuretics help the kidneys get rid of sodium and water. This lowers blood volume and pressure. People taking thiazide diuretics should have regular blood and urine tests to monitor their blood sugar and potassium levels. Beta-blockers were once popular for treating hypertension, but doctors only tend to prescribe them now when other treatments have not been successful.

Beta-blockers slow the heart rate and reduce the force of the heartbeat, causing a drop in blood pressure. Beta-blockers are often the standard medication for a person with very high blood pressure, known as a hypertensive crisis. Aliskiren Tekturna, Rasilez reduces the production of renin, an enzyme that the kidneys produce.

Renin helps produce a hormone that narrows blood vessels and raises blood pressure. Reducing this hormone causes the blood vessels to widen and blood pressure to fall. This drug is relatively new, and healthcare professionals are still determining its optimal use and dosage. It is essential to read the packaging of any medication to check for interactions with other drugs. Find out more detail here about blood pressure medications.

A healthful, balanced diet includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, vegetable and omega oils, and good quality, unrefined carbohydrates , such as whole grains. People who include animal products in their diet should trim all the fat off and avoid processed meats. Experts recommend reducing salt consumption and increasing potassium intake to manage or prevent high blood pressure. Limiting salt intake to less than 5—6 grams per day could help improve cardiovascular health and reduce systolic blood pressure by 5.

In moderation, plant sources of fats, such as avocados, nuts, olive oil, and omega oils, can be healthful. People should limit their intake of saturated fats and trans fats, common in animal-sourced and processed foods. Health experts recommend the DASH diet for people with high blood pressure.

The DASH diet focuses on an eating plan that emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and low-fat dairy products. Which foods are good for reducing blood pressure? Some studies indicate that consuming some alcohol may help lower blood pressure. However, others report the opposite, noting that even drinking a moderate amount might increase blood pressure levels.

People who regularly drink more than moderate amounts of alcohol will almost always experience elevated blood pressure levels. Studies into the relationship between caffeine and blood pressure have produced conflicting results. A report published in concluded that a moderate intake of coffee appears to be safe for people with high blood pressure.

The AHA recommend a range of lifestyle adjustments that can help reduce blood pressure, such as:. Reduced blood flow to the vagina can lead to a decrease in sexual desire or arousal, vaginal dryness, or difficulty achieving orgasm. High blood pressure is usually a chronic condition that gradually causes damage over the years. But sometimes blood pressure rises so quickly and severely that it becomes a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment, often with hospitalization.

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High blood pressure dangers: Hypertension's effects on your body High blood pressure is a risk factor for more than heart disease. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Open pop-up dialog box High blood pressure complications Close. High blood pressure complications High blood pressure can cause many complications.

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