Stressful situations lead to serious dysfunctions, such as anguish and anxiety that could make our hearts skip a beat. According to a recent study performed by a team of experts, wide blood pressure fluctuations may signal increased risk of heart disease and possibly early death. Variations of more than 14 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure readings between doctor visits is linked to a 25% higher risk of heart failure.
If we come to think about our daily routine and the amount of energy and stress it involves, it is pretty hard to avoid blood pressure variations. We are used to working with tight deadlines, face unexpected situations, be in a constant rush and skip meals. Everything mentioned above could lead to a potential collapse and if not, heart failure waits for us right around the corner.
Doctors advise that patients should have their blood pressure controlled and checked up on a regular basis. Blood pressure changes as our rhythm changes, exposing us to great risks to develop dangerous affections. If high variations in blood pressure are observed, patients should talk to their doctors and take rapid action in order to keep their health states under control.
As medical care representatives state, variations in blood pressure may be a sign of increasing damage to the arteries. According to a recent statistic, one in three US adults has high blood pressure.
A team of researchers have embarked on a mission to analyze data from a major trial which involved the use of medicines to fight blood pressure and high cholesterol. The trial gathered together more than 26.000 individuals, whose blood pressure readings were taken at five, six or seven visits performed between six to 28 months after the study started.
After an extensive period of research and analysis, researchers found that an average blood pressure variation of 15 mm Hg is linked to 30% increased risk of heart attack or fatal heart disease and a 46% raised risk of stroke. Furthermore, the risk for death from any other cause was raised at 58%.
Certain blood pressure treatments, such as calcium channel blockers and diuretics are able to control blood pressure variations much better than others. An ideal target that could ensure a healthy lifestyle would be lowering blood pressure to less than 140 mm Hg systolic and less than 90 mm Hg diastolic with both medication and lifestyle changes.
Image Source: blood-pressure-monitoring.org