High Blood Pressure in Middle-Aged Women: Causes, Symptoms, and What Can You Do About It
No one is too young not to worry about your blood pressure. It’s dubbed a silent killer because it does not show any obvious symptoms until it has affected the other organs, especially the heart. As one of the most concerning health issues of middle age, the concern about this particular disease is inevitable.
In fact, nearly half of all people with hypertension are women and are more at risk of it than men. Thus, if you’re a middle-aged woman who wants to learn more about this illness, here is what you need to know.
What is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is when the heart pumps the blood pushing against the wall of the arteries, which can fluctuate throughout the day depending on your activities. However, when it is frequently high for an extended period, it can damage the heart and can cause heart problems.
High blood pressure forces the heart to pump harder, and over time, this will cause the heart muscle to thicken, leading the heart to narrow and harden the arteries, which can limit the normal flow of blood, making it harder for the heart to fill with and pump blood.
Causes
A lot of possibilities can lead middle-aged women to have high blood pressure. Such causes are smoking, obesity or a sedentary lifestyle, eating a diet that is low in fiber and high in fat and sodium, early menarche, excessive alcohol drinking, and chronic stress.
Most of the causes that increase the risk of having high blood pressure can lead to a person being overweight, such as a sedentary lifestyle. A sedentary lifestyle is the opposite of an active lifestyle. It means a person lacks daily physical movement, which can lead to obesity. Eating foods high in fats and sodium can also lead to obesity.
As such, visiting your physician regularly, especially at your ripe age, is recommended so they can recommend a better treatment unique for you. They might prescribe you medicines like lisinopril that help with high blood pressure. If they do, you shouldn’t miss the chance to get a lisinopril discount to save more on your health care.
Noticeable Symptoms
Most people who have elevated high blood pressure and Stage 1 high blood pressure don’t show or feel any symptoms. Only people with Stage 2 high blood pressure can feel the symptoms.
Early symptoms of high blood pressure are hard to detect, mainly because they are too general and can be mistaken as the symptoms of other diseases. These symptoms include dizziness, headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort. Late symptoms are those when it is too late and has already affected the other organs.
What Can You Do
According to a Johns Hopkins study, a healthy lifestyle helped 40% of people stop taking blood pressure medications. Other research has shown that lifestyle changes can lower the risk for hypertension in African Americans and others at an increased genetic risk.
High blood pressure is a silent killer and is one of the leading risk factors for other diseases to arise. However, on the brighter side, it is highly preventable. The key to preventing high blood pressure is to avoid habits and behaviors that increase the risk.
Also, changing the current unhealthy lifestyle, which includes:
- Regular self-monitoring of the blood pressure. You can purchase a sphygmomanometer, either manual or automated. When using a manual sphygmomanometer, ensure the cuff is well fitted and placed 1-2 inches above the brachial artery or the bent elbow. If the cuff is too small, it could result in false high blood pressure; if it is too large, it could cause false low blood pressure.
- Active lifestyle. Even if life becomes busy, you still need to engage in physical activities, even if it’s just walking for 30 minutes every day. You can add physical activity by walking to your workplace, especially if it’s not far. Instead of ordering food through an app, you can order it yourself and walk to the restaurant.
- Choosing foods wisely. A very well-balanced diet is the key. If you are doing grocery, ensure that you are reading the labels of the foods. Make sure that it is low in sodium and fats. Avoid foods that are heavily processed foods.
- Avoiding unhealthy habits. Habits such as smoking, chronic stress, and alcohol consumption. Smoking triggers sympathetic nervous symptoms that will raise your blood pressure. Alcohol consumption can cause plaque in the heart, causing the arteries to be narrowed. Although stress is not that bad, chronic stress can trigger the body to release many hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which will cause the heart to beat faster and blood vessels to become narrowed.
Final Thoughts
The positive effect of being healthy lasts for a long time. It’s beneficial not only for your physical health but also for your mental health. With this article, you’re more aware of what you can do and what could happen if you notice the first sign of high blood pressure. So, you can take preventive measures before it gets worse. As everyone says, prevention is better than cure.
