What Is Hypertension?

Hypertension is a condition in which an individual’s blood pressure is constantly elevated. To determine your blood pressure, your health care provider measures the systolic pressure during heartbeats and the diastolic pressure between one heartbeat and the next. A normal blood pressure is below 120/80. Anything above this may need monitoring or medical intervention.

Types of Hypertension

There are two main types of hypertension. Primary hypertension is the most common, accounting for over 90% of cases. This condition develops over many years and tends to run in families. While researchers don’t know the exact cause of primary hypertension, there are several recognized risk factors, including age, genetics, obesity and lifestyle habits.

By contrast, secondary hypertension develops due to specific medications or health conditions, such as kidney disease or sleep apnea. This kind is significantly less common, and managing it tends to involve treating the underlying condition.

Symptoms and Complications

In most cases, people with hypertension don’t have symptoms. The presence of symptoms can indicate extremely high blood pressure that is damaging their eyes, brain, heart or kidneys. Some dangerous symptoms to watch for include:

• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling of pulsation in the head or neck

If your hypertension is poorly controlled, these symptoms should be treated as medical emergencies, and you should contact your health care provider immediately.

‍Why Are Older Adults More Susceptible to Hypertension?

‍Seniors are considerably more likely to develop hypertension than those under the age of 65. Around 80% of those aged 65 and over have this condition, compared to only 22% of those aged 18-39 years. Several factors contribute to this trend, from changes in blood vessels to age-related health conditions.

‍Age-Related Changes

‍As we age, our blood vessels become stiffer and less flexible. This means our hearts must work harder to pump blood through our bodies, driving up our blood pressure.

Additionally, seniors tend to experience changes in kidney function. When the kidneys aren’t working properly, the body experiences a buildup of fluid, plaque and toxins. This can increase blood volume and cause the blood vessels to further constrict, increasing the blood pressure.

‍Lifestyle Factors

‍The older we get, the less forgiving our bodies are of certain lifestyle factors and habits. For those who spend most of their time sitting and don’t participate in regular cardiovascular exercise, sedentary habits can contribute to hypertension. Along with this, long-term dietary habits, such as excessive alcohol consumption, inadequate potassium intake, minimal fruits and vegetables and high sodium intake, can negatively impact seniors’ blood pressure.

‍Comorbidities

‍Hypertension often coexists with other health conditions, referred to as comorbidities. These conditions can make it more difficult to manage hypertension and increase your odds of experiencing serious health problems.

The most common comorbidities include:

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Coronary artery disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Stroke
• High cholesterol

Risk Factors for Hypertension in Older Adults

‍Older adults have a range of risk factors that make them vulnerable to hypertension. While some of these risks are unavoidable, others can be reduced with some lifestyle adjustments.

‍Changeable Risk Factors

‍Seniors can reduce their risk of high blood pressure by paying attention to a few factors within their control. Some changeable risk factors include:

• Diets low in potassium and high in sodium
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• High stress levels

Unchangeable Risk Factors

‍Some risk factors for hypertension are outside your control, however. These include:

• Age
• Genetics and family history
• Gender
• Ethnicity

How Can Older Adults Avoid Hypertension?

‍Despite the unchangeable risk factors, there are several ways you can avoid or reduce your odds of developing hypertension.

‍Dietary Recommendations

‍A diet rich in fruit and vegetables provides the necessary amount of potassium for healthy blood vessels, and reducing your intake of salt, unhealthy fats and ultraprocessed foods is key to general heart health. Consider incorporating principles of the DASH diet to prevent or treat high blood pressure.

‍Physical Activity

‍Regular exercise for cardiovascular health can have a significant role in managing your blood pressure. To keep your heart healthy, consider incorporating fun activities, such as going on bike rides in Springfield, Missouri, swimming, taking regular afternoon walks and attending weekly exercise classes like cardio drumming or yoga.

‍Stress Management

‍Chronic stress contributes to high blood pressure. While much of the stress we face is unavoidable, there are ways we can effectively cope with it. Deep breathing exercises, yoga and relaxing hobbies can help relieve stress.

‍Contact Us Today

‍Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects the majority of those aged 65 and over. While you can’t change many of the factors that contribute to this condition, such as age-related changes in the structure of your blood vessels, there are steps you can take to reduce the severity of this condition and reduce the risk of complications.

At The Gardens of Springfield, we promote a healthy lifestyle for residents through heart-healthy menus, regular blood pressure screenings and a wide range of fitness activities. To learn more about our approach to wellness or schedule a visit to our community, give us a call.