High blood pressure is a major cause behind the occurrence of heart disease, stroke and death. Cardiac surgeon Dr Bipinchandra Bhamre says, “Hypertension is like putting weight on the head while walking. So if your blood pressure exceeds 140/90 it increases the workload on your heart and increases the chances of heart failure.
High blood pressure is the most prevalent modifiable risk factor for heart failure (HF). High blood pressure is one of the risk factors for developing coronary heart disease. “Chronic high blood pressure puts pressure on your heart and makes it difficult for it to pump your blood. Your heart muscles will become thick and weak, which will lead to heart failure.
High blood pressure causes the walls of your blood vessels to thicken, and this builds up when cholesterol builds up inside the blood vessels. Chronic hypertension causes structural and functional changes in the heart that can eventually turn into heart failure. Thus, treating high BP will help prevent and reverse myocardial changes in patients at risk for HF,” says Dr Bhamre.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with frequent hospitalizations and high mortality and morbidity rates in patients. Experts say that uncontrolled high blood pressure leads to heart failure.
What is high blood pressure and how does it affect us?
Adequate blood pressure control in hypertensive patients can prevent heart failure.
Medications such as beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, aldosterone receptor blockers, hydralazine, and nitrates may be helpful for hypertensive patients with chronic heart failure.
You need to take the medicine only after consulting a doctor. Avoid self-medication.
Take Away
Take the medicine as prescribed by the doctor, and do not skip it.
Visit your doctor for regular check-ups and follow-up.
Make some healthy lifestyle changes.
Stop consuming too much table salt, do not put salt on top of salt in food.
Eat a diet rich in all important nutrients.
Daily Exercise.
Avoid alcohol and smoking.
Give up junk, processed, oily and packaged food.
In addition, you need to maintain an optimal weight, stay stress-free, and monitor and control blood pressure to keep your heart healthy.
Use meditation and yoga to de-stress yourself.