High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol In Adults
Being told that you have high blood pressure can increase your risk for heart disease. When you’re told that you also have high cholesterol you and your doctor must discuss ways to improve your current health and lifestyle to lower blood pressure and cholesterol to protect the health of your heart. Here at MyHealth, our medical team can work with you to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol through medications and lifestyle changes.
Signs of High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
The problem is that these two problems don’t typically cause symptoms. So, you could simply be going through your day with high blood pressure and cholesterol and not even know it. A lack of symptoms does not mean that these aren’t serious health problems. Both will require medications and lifestyle changes to better manage these two conditions. A simple blood test can determine whether you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Complications of High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Here’s why you should be turning to your doctor at least once a year for a checkup, particularly if you are at risk for high blood pressure or cholesterol: Both of these issues can damage the blood vessels and arteries in the body, particularly the heart.
Over time, this damage can increase how hard your heart has to work to function properly. This added stress on the heart can lead to a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol and high blood pressure can also impact the health and function of the brain, kidneys, and other organs in your body.
Know Your Risk
There are certain risk factors for high blood pressure and cholesterol that you have control over. By leading a healthier lifestyle, we have seen patients lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels without having to turn to medication (of course, medication is also incredibly important for patients who haven’t been able to fully manage their conditions through a healthy lifestyle alone). Some ways to improve risk factors include,
- Quitting smoking
- Getting at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day
- Eating a healthy, whole diet
- Avoiding fatty and processed foods including certain types of meat
- Limiting sugar and sodium intake
- Maintaining a healthy weight