Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure and it can increase the risk ofheart disease ,stroke , and other cardiac conditions.- High blood pressure causes your blood vessels to thicken and become stiff, which puts stress on the heart and can lead to heart disease.
- A stroke can occur as a result of failing to treat hypertension, so it is important to be aware of your risk factors and get your blood pressure checked regularly.
Hypertension is the medical term for $4, or when blood vessels cannot relax enough and create higher resistance to blood pumping through the circulatory system. So, it plays an important role in
In fact, according to the $4 about 70% of Americans who have chronic heart failure and 80% who have a stroke also have high blood pressure.
Here's what you need to know about how hypertension, heart disease, and stroke are related.
Hypertension and heart disease
When you have hypertension, your blood vessels thicken from the stress of blood forcefully rushing through them, says $4, MD, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Over time, this can cause the vessels to grow$4, which makes the heart work harder to continue pumping blood through them. Putting too much stress on your heart can lead to different types of heart disease:
- Coronary artery disease. The thicker, narrow blood vessels associated with high blood pressure make it easier for plaque to build up on your artery walls. If that plaque accumulation in the arteries leading to the heart, it can cause$4, which can result in a heart attack or heart failure. A study in India found that hypertensive adults are $4 more likely to develop coronary artery disease.
- Heart attack. When the arteries build up with plaque, a blood clot is more likely to form. A blood clot blocks blood flow to the heart and prevents it from getting the oxygen and nutrients it needs, which damages heart muscle and results in a $4. About $4 having their first heart attack will also have high blood pressure.
- Heart failure. Over time, the stress of high blood pressure makes the heart larger and less efficient. This can lead to $4, or the condition when the heart can't provide enough blood to the body. A study in Massachusetts found that $4 also had hypertension.
Hypertension and stroke
There are two main types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are more common than hemorrhagic strokes (which only make up $4 of stroke cases), but hypertension is strongly related to each type.
- Ischemic stroke. When blood clots form in arteries that lead to the brain, the result is an $4 Without ample blood supply to brain cells, or neurons, they will stop working and heavily impair your body's $4. Hypertension accounts for about $4 of ischemic strokes, says $4, MD, a vascular neurologist at Upstate University Hospital.
- Hemorrhagic stroke. In some cases, high blood pressure can cause blood vessels to burst. If a blood vessel bursts in the brain, it is called a $4, and blood may leak into the cranium and severely damage brain tissue. $4 that hypertension increased the odds of hemorrhagic stroke by about 10 times.
Lowering blood pressure decreases the risk of heart disease and stroke
Despite the dangers of hypertension, the CDC estimates that $4 US adults don't know they have it. You can't feel high blood pressure, which is why the American Heart Association calls it a $4
"Unless one has regular medical care and is getting checkups, you may not even be aware of having high blood pressure until unfortunately, you have had one of the unfortunate consequences," says$4, MD, a cardiologist at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
But there are common risk factors. According to Lattore, about $4 of people aged 60 or older have hypertension, and as you get older, it's a good idea to stay on top of your blood pressure.
Certain demographics are also prone to hypertension, Fergus says, such as African-Americans and second-generation immigrants, and you should be aware if it runs in your family.
If you do have hypertension, treating it can have a strong effect on your
To treat hypertension and lower the chances of a stroke or heart disease, Fergus says you should exercise regularly, eat a low-salt and high-potassium diet, and stay away from cigarettes. For more detailed information, read our article, "$4."