High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels are common medical problems in adults. Either one can raise your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, but the two together raise your risk even higher. Although many people have both conditions at the same time, high blood pressure does not cause increased cholesterol levels.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects roughly one of every three adults in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. Hypertension is almost always a silent disease, and unless recognized and treated early can irreversibly damage your organs before any symptoms appear. Increased pressure inside your blood vessels causes progressive damage to arteries throughout your body, including their smooth inner lining cells. Once these cells are damaged, cholesterol and other substances more easily enter the vessel wall and accelerate the development of atherosclerosis and further loss of blood flow. Long-term complications of hypertension include coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney damage and dementia.
Cholesterol
Like high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol levels represent a major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Up to 20 percent of adult men and 30 percent of adult women will have high cholesterol levels over 240 mg/dl during their lifetimes, and many more will be above the optimal level of 200 mg/dl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diets high in saturated fat and cholesterol, obesity, lack of physical activity, increasing age and family history are common factors that can increase your cholesterol level. High blood levels of LDL cholesterol correlate with increased cholesterol deposition in blood vessel walls, atherosclerosis and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
The Link Between Hypertension and Cholesterol
An important step in decreasing your risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases involves setting a goal for your desirable level of LDL, or bad, cholesterol. Other major risk factors that affect this goal include high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, family history, HDL cholesterol level and age. The more of these risk factors you have, the lower your LDL goal should be. High blood pressure by itself increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and when combined with a high cholesterol level multiplies your risk even higher. High blood pressure doesn't actually increase your cholesterol blood level, but can affect your optimal desirable level of cholesterol.
Reducing Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Lifestyle changes can help control high blood pressure and cholesterol, especially when they are discovered early. Eating healthy foods low in fat, losing weight and increasing your level of physical activity can improve both conditions. Additional steps for high blood pressure include lowering your sodium intake, limiting alcohol use, stopping smoking and managing stress levels. When these steps are not enough, medication is available to help you maintain a normal blood pressure and optimal cholesterol levels. Recognizing your risk factors, discussing treatment options with your health care provider and regular follow-up are all important steps for improving your future health.
