News and Tips

We hear all the time that high blood pressure can lead to many health issues and complications, but why? It has to do with damaged and stiff arteries, and the resulting problems.

Your age, weight, exercise habits, family history, diet, and many other factors can contribute to having high blood pressure. If you do have high blood pressure, you aren’t alone. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says almost half of adult Americans have high blood pressure.

You don’t have to accept high blood pressure as normal. Lifestyle changes and professional help can help you lower your blood pressure. Take control of your health, and your future. The New Heart New You program is designed to help you tackle high blood pressure. Learn more here.

Blood Pressure 101

You probably know your blood pressure is made of two numbers. Both numbers are important, but they mean different things.

The first number, the top number, is called the systolic. This is measuring the pressure in your arteries while the heart beats. The second number, on the bottom, is called the diastolic. This is measuring the pressure in your arteries while your heart is at rest.

New Heart can help you learn how to take your blood pressure, track it, and manage it.

What’s So Dangerous About Hypertension?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, doesn’t really have any symptoms. This can be problematic, because it can have serious long term health effects. If there are no symptoms that draw your attention to it, people may not know they have high blood pressure, or they may ignore it.

High blood pressure is linked to higher risks of heart attack, stroke, heart disease, aneurysm, and kidney disease. High blood pressure means blood is moving more forcefully, which can damage and weaken your arteries.

Plaque build up

When the lining of a blood vessel is damaged, other substances floating in the blood can get stuck. Substances like cholesterol and cell waste can accumulate, triggering an inflammatory response from white blood cells. These white blood cells, or macrophages, can collect, leading to plaque buildup.

If the plaque build-up is large, it may stop blood flow at the site of the injury. It also may break off and travel downstream and restrict blood flow in another area of the body. Depending on where this blockage happens, it may result in a heart attack or stroke.

The video below demonstrates the process of plaque build up due to high blood pressure.

Stiff and weak blood vessels

When plaque build up in the blood vessels, a process called atherosclerosis, the blood vessels become less flexible.

Usually, when blood rushes into an artery the blood vessel expands and then recoils. This recoiling helps propel the blood further, and for free — it doesn’t require any additional energy.

When the plaque builds up, the artery gets stiffer and does not recoil as well. This means the heart needs to pump harder to make up for the free “recoil” help. This extra strain on the heart can lead to heart failure (check out this helpful graphic), and your body not getting enough of the oxygen-rich blood it needs to thrive.

If the wall of the blood vessel is weak, it can balloon or bulge out. This is called an aneurysm. If the vessel bursts, it could cause internal bleeding, clotting, or even stroke.

What Can I Do About It?

You shouldn’t be shocked we are recommending exercise to manage your blood pressure.

The Mayo Clinic says exercise can reduce your blood pressure by 5-8 points, and losing weight can decrease your blood pressure 1 point for every 2.2 pounds lost. That’s significant.

Limit alcohol, avoid smoking, and follow a healthy diet.

You also shouldn’t be shocked to know we recommend the Mediterranean Diet for many reasons, including managing blood pressure. The Mayo Clinic says a nutrient-rich diet low in saturated fats and bad cholesterols can reduce your blood pressure by 11 points.

Do you know you have high blood pressure but can’t manage it?

Our New Heart New You program can help. Our exercise specialists will work with you to identify your goals, create a personalized plan, and monitor your progress. Monitoring blood pressure is a regular part of your routine at New Heart, and for good reason. The program can also help you address lifestyle and nutritional changes. Take control of your health, and your future.