You may be at risk for cardiovascular disease. More than 100 million adults in the United States have high cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. The CDC also states that, in 2006, 32 percent of adults had high blood pressure. Because both involve blood and blood vessels, a person might wonder about the correlation between cholesterol and blood pressure.
Correlation
High cholesterol does not necessarily lead to high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. But hypertension, or high blood pressure, and high cholesterol do share common causes and risk factors.
Dual Action
High cholesterol and high blood pressure can be present at the same time. High cholesterol and hypertension can work together to injure your blood vessels and cause heart disease. High blood pressure can injure blood vessels, causing an uneven surface inside arterial walls. These rough surfaces catch cholesterol and other fatty substances as they pass by in the bloodstream. Cholesterol begins to accumulate on blood vessel walls, preventing blood from flowing efficiently. Oxygen-rich blood cannot reach all the cellos of the body, including vital organs. Hypertension and high cholesterol work together to cause accumulation and blockages which can, over time, affect the heart, brain, kidneys and other organs.
Effects
High cholesterol and hypertension can have similar effects on the body. Both injure blood vessels and impair blood flow to vital organs. High blood pressure is the second leading cause of chronic kidney disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Scientists are still studying how cholesterol levels cause kidney disease.
Causes
Poor diet and lifestyle choices may lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Eating too much saturated fat and cholesterol is the main reason for high cholesterol. A sedentary lifestyle drives up cholesterol and blood pressure, as does smoking. Heredity may also play a role.
Detection
High cholesterol and hypertension have no symptoms in their early stages. Only a laboratory blood test can detect high cholesterol levels. Your doctor's office, health fair or home test kit can measure blood pressure and cholesterol levels to test for high cholesterol or hypertension.
Treatment
A person with high cholesterol or high blood pressure should start a healthier diet right away, reducing salt and fat intake. An overweight person should lose excess pounds. Exercising for 30 minutes a day on five days a week can reduce blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Quit smoking and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke. Your doctors may prescribe medications to bring blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control.
