Blood pressure is something that people should strive to control throughout their lives, but it's particularly important for seniors and senior health. High blood pressure that's left uncontrolled can lead to a number of serious health problems such as heart attack and stroke.
High blood pressure is a common problem, affecting one out of every three adults in the United States, says the National Institutes of Health--that's nearly 72 million people. And, the number gets higher the older people get. High blood pressure affects more than 50 percent of all Americans who are 60 years old or older, notes the NIH.
Definition
When your heart beats and pumps blood throughout the body, a pressure is exerted against the walls of those arteries by the blood being pumped. That pressure is called blood pressure--and the higher your blood pressure, the greater your risk of developing a serious health condition. The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension.
High blood pressure is defined as a reading of 140/90 mm/Hg (millimeters of mercury) or higher, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine. A good blood pressure reading is 120/80 mm/Hg or lower.
Causes
Years of living an unhealthy lifestyle can cause high blood pressure. Being obese or overweight, having diabetes, smoking and eating a high-salt diet can all cause high blood pressure, says the NLM. Some medications and health conditions, as well as alcohol abuse, can also cause the condition. Birth control pills, cocaine, corticosteroids and medications used to treat migraines are medications that can cause high blood pressure. Health conditions that can cause it include pregnancy, kidney disease, chronic pain, stress and Cushing's syndrome, says the NLM.
Symptoms
High blood pressure very rarely causes symptoms, says the NLM. To know that you have it, you need to get your blood pressure checked and find out the reading. Sometimes, severe high blood pressure can lead to fatigue, affected vision, abnormal heartbeat or pains in the chest.
What it Means for Seniors
Although high blood pressure is extremely common in seniors, the NIH says it isn't a natural part of normal, healthy aging. Seniors who don't get high blood pressure under control run the risk of serious heart problems such as heart attack, congestive heart failure, arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and heart disease, says the NLM. Damage to the kidneys or kidney failure, blindness and stroke are also possible complications of high blood pressure.
Treatment Options: Medications
There are a number of medications that can successfully manage high blood pressure in seniors. Medications called beta-blockers, alpha blockers, vasodilators, ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers are all commonly prescribed, says the NIH. These medications all work in different ways, some to relax blood vessels and some to slow down how fast your heart pumps. Diuretics, which help get rid of any extra water in your body, are also effective high blood pressure treatment for seniors. It's common for a combination of medications to be prescribed for the best blood pressure control, says the NLM.
Treatment Options: Lifestyle Changes
Treating high blood pressure in seniors isn't just about taking a medication--lifestyle changes are necessary to keep it under control. People who are already overweight will need to shed those extra pounds, says the NLM. A regular exercise routine and a healthy diet--low in salt, fat and cholesterol and rich in whole grains, fruit and vegetables--are an essential part of high blood pressure treatment.
