Essential Things Every Adult Must Know About Hypertension
- Spirit of Hope Home Healthcare
- Aug 28
- 4 min read
Hypertension, or High blood pressure, is a condition where the force of blood against your artery walls is constantly too high. This increased workload and pressure can lead to a lot of health issues if left unattended.
Nearly half of the adults in America have high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. The body’s blood vessels change with age, and arteries get stiffer, causing blood pressure to go up
Understanding Hypertension: The ‘Silent Killer’
Blood pressure is measured using two values:
● Systolic pressure: It is the force of the blood exerted on the arteries during a heartbeat.
● Diastolic pressure: It is the pressure during the resting phase between heartbeats.
A blood pressure reading is presented as the systolic blood pressure number over the diastolic blood pressure number, e.g 120/80 mm Hg. Consistently high readings over time can indicate hypertension.
Causes of High Blood Pressure in Aging Adults
Various factors in aging adults can cause hypertension.
1. Age-Related Changes and Hormonal Shifts:
Blood pressure tends to rise with age. Blood vessels get thicker and stiffer over time, which increases the risk of high blood pressure. Sometimes, for women, hormonal shifts following menopause can lead to an increase in blood pressure.
2. Genetics and Family History:
High blood pressure often runs in families. If aging close family members have had hypertension, the likelihood increases that you may also experience it, especially as you age.
Lifestyle Factors and Their Impact
Various lifestyle habits can increase blood pressure in aging adults.
● Diets: Saturated fats, high salt intake, and a lack of fruits and vegetables can raise blood pressure.
● Physical activity: Lack of exercise can lead to weight gain and reduce heart health.
● Stimulants and alcohol intake: Use of substances such as cocaine and other stimulants can increase blood pressure.
4. Medical Conditions and Medications
Co-existing conditions like kidney disease or sleep apnea—repeated pauses of breathing during sleep can elevate blood pressure. Medications like some NSAIDs and cold remedies can also increase blood pressure.
Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms
Hypertension, often referred to as the “silent killer,” can be difficult to detect due to its deceptive signs.
Common and Often Deceptive Symptoms
Frequent Headaches, especially in the morning at the back of the head can be linked to hypertension
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Blurred vision or double vision
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Hypertension does not always show noticeable symptoms, making regular checkups important
Emergency Symptoms Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
If an aging adult experiences the following symptoms, seek emergency medical attention:
Severe chest pain
Severe anxiety
Nausea and vomiting
Seizures
Shortness of breath
Severe headache accompanied by confusion and blurred vision
Unresponsiveness
Risks of Untreated Hypertension in Aging Adults
Hypertension is more than an isolated condition; it is a condition that can lead to various health conditions if not controlled. High blood pressure is especially risky for aging adults who may already have other health conditions.
● Heart disease and stroke:
Elevated blood pressure adds strain to the heart. Increasing the risk of developing heart diseases like Heart failure and coronary heart disease.
● Declining brain function:
Persistent high blood pressure can reduce blood flow to the brain, increasing the risk of cognitive issues like Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
● Kidney failure:
High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the kidney, which helps filter waste products in the blood. This reduces the functionality of the kidney, leading to kidney failure.
● Visual impairment:
Hypertension can damage delicate blood vessels in the eyes, leading to a condition like macular degeneration, and even complete loss of vision in severe cases.
3 Essential Tips on How to Control Hypertension
1. Lifestyle Modifications and Heart-Friendly Habits
● Eat a heart-friendly diet: Consuming a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and low-fat dairy products can help control hypertension in aging adults. A reduction in salt and sodium in the diet helps lower the risk of high blood pressure.
● Regular Exercise: Encouraging low-impact physical activity like walking, dancing, stretching, or swimming for about 30 minutes regularly can help aging adults lower their elevated blood pressure to a normal level.
● Maintaining a healthy weight: Blood pressure often increases as weight does. Being overweight is one of the major factors that elevate blood pressure. Losing some extra weight can help control blood pressure.
● Reduce alcohol intake: Alcohol intake elevates blood pressure quickly and also makes medications less effective. Limiting alcohol intake or abstinence from alcohol can help reduce high blood pressure by many points.
● Quit Smoking: Smoking raises blood pressure due to damage caused to the blood vessels. Stopping smoking helps lower blood pressure, and reduces the risk of heart disease.
● Manage stress: Aging adults might not go through physical stress, but emotional stress also elevates blood pressure. Find out the cause of their stress and help ease it. This also helps reduce elevated blood pressure.
2. Medication (Based on prescription)
● Beta-blockers: These reduce nerve signals to the heart and blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.
● ACE Inhibitors: These medications help relax the blood vessels and relieve high blood pressure.
● Diuretics: These help the kidneys remove excess salt and water from the body, and help control hypertension.
● Other medications: Other medications help manage or control high blood pressure.
3. The Importance of Regular Monitoring
● Track blood pressure at home: In an aging adult, measuring blood pressure regularly is important to help track the effectiveness of medication and lifestyle changes. This helps to control the blood pressure.
● Identifying the warning signs: The caregiver must be able to identify the warning signs and when to seek help. These help control blood pressure.
● Scheduled checkups: Frequent visits to the healthcare center help ensure the treatment plan is working and up to date.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is common in aging adults but can feel overwhelming due to its demands. Adjusting to lifestyle changes may be challenging. However, seeking help from professional caregivers can ease the burden and ensure they don’t feel left out.
Spirit of Hope provides reliable, specialized home care tailored to your needs. We assist with in-home care if your aging loved ones need support.
We offer a free in-home assessment to evaluate the precise needs of your loved ones, prioritizing their comfort, safety, and well-being.
Comments