Prehypertension is defined as a blood pressure reading that is greater than 120/80 and under 140/90; anyone with a blood pressure between those numbers is considered to have prehypertension. Approximately 23% of the population of the United States has prehypertension, and another 25% have hypertension, or high blood pressure.
Why Is Prehypertension Serious?
Prehypertension is dangerous because it increases the risk of developing heart disease by at least two times than those with lower blood pressure. And once a person has hypertension, their risk jumps to four times as likely.
Prehypertension also means that unless changes are made, the patient will eventually develop high blood pressure. High blood pressure is responsible for the onslaught of heart disease and has a very negative effect on the heart. By causing the arteries to narrow, high blood pressure makes the heart work harder in order to pump blood through the arteries. The increased strain on the heart wears it down sooner than normal and contributes to coronary heart disease, in which plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries, causing them to narrow. Once the arteries are narrowed, the flow of blood to the heart decreases and encourages the formation of clots within the arteries. These clots block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart. When the heart is not receiving enough oxygen, a heart attack can occur.
How Is Prehypertension Treated?
Unless a person also has diabetes or a kidney disease, rarely will doctors prescribe medication for prehypertension. Instead, they will encourage a number of lifestyle modifications that will help to lower your blood pressure back into the low-risk category. These include:
Diet. A diet that is high in fat and cholesterol can lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, two large factors in the development of heart disease. Eating a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables, protein, and whole grains can reduce the likelihood of developing high blood pressure. Avoiding a diet that consists of a great deal of red meat and foods high in trans fat will also reduce a person’s risk.
Exercise. A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to weight gain and obesity, a contributing factor in the onset of high blood pressure. Excess weight causes the heart to constantly work harder than normal to pump blood throughout the body. Regular exercise can not only help maintain a healthy weight, but also curb the onslaught of high blood pressure and other factors that lead to heart disease.
Smoking. The link between smoking and high blood pressure has been shown to increase a smoker’s chance of developing hypertension by more than four times that of a nonsmoker. Chemicals in nicotine also reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood, thereby reducing oxygen needed by the heart.
Alcohol consumption. A high level of alcohol consumption has been linked to high blood pressure. Aim for no more than two drinks a day as an absolute maximum.
Stress. Stress factors, such as job issues, family problems, and money woes are common stressors people face on a daily basis. However, too much stress has been linked to heart disease. It can lead to a higher blood pressure, chest pains, and heart attack. In addition, many people turn to unhealthy measures that can lead to heart disease in order to deal with stress. This can include eating for comfort, which leads to weight gain, smoking, or too much drinking, all lifestyle factors that can lead to heart disease.
If you have been diagnosed as having prehypertension, it’s important that you modify your lifestyle to reduce your risk of developing full-blown hypertension and other heart diseases.