SHARES
Blood pressure forces blood around the body. In adults, the normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg.
The top number is systolic blood pressure, which represents the blood pressure in the arteries during heart muscle contraction; meanwhile, the bottom number is diastolic blood pressure, which indicates the blood pressure when heart muscle is between beats.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, happens when the blood pressure is above 130/80 mmHg.
Although high blood pressure is without symptoms, it carries harmful health complications. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage the heart, the eyes, the kidneys, and most importantly, the brain.
High Blood Pressure and Stroke
In people who suffer from high blood pressure, their arteries are exposed to constant stress. Overtime, the artery walls weaken, which may lead to stroke.
Ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes are most commonly linked to hypertension. In fact, every 10 mmHg rise in systolic blood pressure boosts the risk of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke by 28 % and 38 % respectively.
Ischaemic Stroke
Ischaemic stroke occurs when a clot dislodges at an artery, depriving the brain of oxygen. Nine out of ten stroke patients suffer from this type of stroke. The clot can form at the clogged site, or travel from other site of the body to the brain.
High blood pressure contributes to developing rapid irregular heart beat (atrial fibrillation) or atherosclerosis, a condition where plague is deposited in artery walls.
A person with atrial fibrillation, irregular heartbeat may cause blood to pool at the heart, resulting in clot formation, which then travel to other parts of the body. On the other hand, atherosclerosis hardens and narrows the blood vessels, which increases the risk of fatty plaque depositing at an artery, resulting in risks of blocked artery and formation of clots.
Haemorrhagic Stroke
Haemorrhagic stroke happens when there is bleeding in or around the brain, affecting one out of ten stroke patients. It is said to be more dangerous than ischaemic strokes. Bleeding can occur when a weak blood vessel ruptures due to aneurysm, a spot that had ballooned up from the high pressure exerted on the vessel walls.
High Blood Pressure and Cognitive Impairment
Evidences now suggest the association of hypertension with mild cognitive impairment, vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. These problems with thought processes in the brain may have arisen after impaired blood flow brain causes damage to the brain.
A study reported that men older than age 70 with systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher were 77 % more likely to develop dementia when compared with men with normal blood pressure. Since dementia comes with irreversible brain damages, it becomes imperative to prevent dementia by treating hypertension. In general, long-term antihypertensive medications reduce the risk of dementia.
In addition, a small study reported that patients with mild cognitive impairment treated with antihypertensive medications were 80 % less likely to progress to Alzheimer’s compared to when left untreated.
Conclusion
High blood pressure can have brain-damaging effects. Protect your brain by maintaining blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg. Nevertheless, high blood pressure can be treated effectively with lifestyle changes and antihypertensive medications. If you or your loved ones suffer from hypertension, consult a doctor today.
Further reads:
- Get the most out of Monitoring Blood Pressure at Home
- Stroke: Acting F.A.S.T. Matters
- How to Prevent Stroke Attacks with Healthy Lifestyle
- Why Maintaining Healthy Blood Pressure is So Important!
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by Joanne Lee
Multipotentialite. Loves creating and seeing ideas come alive. View all articles by Joanne Lee.
