Causes of high blood pressure in seniors

The arteries carry blood away from the heart. As blood travels through the arteries, it presses against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure measures how hard the blood is pushing against the walls of the arteries. Normal blood pressure allows blood to flow and deliver oxygen and other important nutrients to different body parts. We measure blood pressure with two numbers (e.g. 120/80 mm Hg). These two numbers are written as “systolic/diastolic” followed by the unit of measurement. Systolic blood pressure is your highest blood pressure measurement and is recorded when your heart contracts. Diastolic blood pressure is your lowest blood pressure measurement and is recorded when the heart is relaxed and filled with blood.  If your blood pressure is over 120/80 mm it’s considered high and below that it is low blood pressure. The higher your systolic or diastolic pressure is, and the longer it stays high, the more damage is made to your blood vessels. Strokes and Heart Attacks are caused by damaged blood vessels. High blood pressure or hypertension is a silent killer and is one of the leading causes of death not only in India but also in the whole world and especially our senior loved ones are at high risk.

Today, let us focus on the most common causes of blood pressure or hypertension in seniors

Diabetes:-

Diabetes causes high blood pressure or hypertension and according to various research, it is the leading cause of hypertension in seniors.

Stiffening of Arteries:-

As we age, our artery walls start to thicken naturally and the heart has to work hard to circulate oxygenated blood throughout the body, causing the blood pressure to rise. This is why our senior loved ones are at a high risk of suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure.

Kidney Disease:-

According to various research, kidney disease is the second leading cause of high blood pressure after diabetes. Our senior loved ones are more prone to falling prey to chronic kidney diseases due to age-damaged kidneys, just like a two-way relationship.

Now, let us have a close look at how can senior loved ones keep their blood pressure in check to lead a healthy and happy life 

Keep an eye on your senior loved one’s body weight 

Being overweight adds to the risk of high blood pressure in seniors. So maintaining proper body weight is very much required.  Moderate exercises can lower blood pressure as well as body weight. Consult a doctor before starting any exercise plan for your beloved seniors to check whether it will be good for their health or not.

Balanced and Nutritious Diet 

A diet rich in fresh fruits, green vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products can help in the long run to combat this deadly disease. Ensure that your beloved seniors are having a balanced meal every day 

Less Sodium Intake 

As we age, the body becomes more sensitive to salt, a high intake of salt causes high blood pressure, so it is necessary to cut down on the daily amount of salt in the diet of elderly people. A low-salt diet might help lower blood pressure. Make sure your loved ones avoid foods like baked goods, chips, instant noodles, etc. as much as possible as they contain loads of extra added salt.

 Blood Pressure Medication:-

If the doctor has prescribed any medication for your loved ones, ask them to take the medication at the same time regularly unless told by the doctor to stop. Continue to monitor the Blood pressure of your beloved seniors every day at home with a blood pressure measuring device. Elder Care Service providers in Kolkata provide in-home caregivers who can take good care of your senior loved ones to make them feel healthy and comfortable.

Less alcohol:-

Drinking alcohol can badly affect the blood pressure of your beloved seniors. If they have a habit of drinking, tell them it’s better to bid adieu to their drinking habits as soon as possible to curtail the risk of hypertension and other serious ailments.

Tell your beloved seniors to quit smoking:-

Smoking increases the risk of high blood pressure, other heart lower the-related diseases, and cancer. Senior people are at a higher risk so ask your loved ones to quit smoking immediately and assure them that they are never too old to quit, the health benefits of quitting can be seen at any age.

Manage the stress level of your senior loved ones:-

Ensure that your loved ones are not overly stressed.  Highlight the benefits of meditation to keep their stress and worries at bay. Make sure your beloved seniors are getting a good night’s sleep. Consult a doctor if you’ve your beloved seniors snore or sound like they have stopped breathing for moments while sleeping. This may be due to sleep apnea which needs immediate attention.

This blog highlights the common causes of Hypertension in seniors and focuses on some tips that senior loved ones can follow to keep their hypertension or high blood pressure in check and lead a healthy and stress-free life.