Rise In Blood Pressure In Middle Age Signals Stroke Risk

Rise in blood pressure in middle age signals stroke and heart attack risks, according to new Northwestern Medicine research.

Rise in blood pressure in middle age signals stroke and heart attack risks, according to new Northwestern Medicine research. The study offers a new understanding on the importance of maintaining low blood pressure early in middle age to prevent heart disease later in life.

Men and women who developed high blood pressure in middle age or who started out with high blood pressure had an estimated 30 percent increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke compared to those who kept their blood pressure low.

High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure or hypertension is defined as a blood pressure of above 140 mm Hg (systolic) and or 90mm Hg (diastolic).

Previous estimates of a personfs risk of cardiovascular disease were based on a single blood pressure measurement. The higher the blood pressure reading, the greater the risk. The new Northwestern Medicine study expands on that by showing a more accurate predictor is a change in blood pressure from age 41 to 55.

The study is published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

gWe found the longer we can prevent hypertension or postpone it, the lower the risk for cardiovascular disease,h said lead author Norrina Allen, assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. gEven for people with normal blood pressure, we want to make sure they keep it at that level, and it doesnft start increasing over time.h

Fruits to Help Lower Blood Pressure / Foods that Help Lower Blood Pressure
Top reasons why you should eat fruits to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. Antioxidants in fruits keep your blood pressure under control.

gThere hasnft been as much of a focus on keeping it low when people are in their 40Œs and 50Œs,h Allen added. gThatfs before a lot of people start focusing on cardiovascular disease risk factors. Wefve shown itfs vital to start early.h

People that maintain or reduce their blood pressure to normal levels by age 55 have the lowest lifetime risk for a heart attack or a stroke.

Animation of heart attack symptoms
Heart attack can cause symptoms such as Chest pain or discomfort, Shortness of breath and pain in neck, back, arm, or shoulder and is due to blockage of blood supply to the heart muscles

The study used data from 61,585 participants in the Cardiovascular Lifetime Risk Pooling Project. Starting with baseline blood pressure readings at age 41, researchers measured blood pressure again at age 55, then followed the patients until the occurrence of a first heart attack or stroke, death or age 95.

Blood pressure links for men and women

Blood Pressure Chart
Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood flowing through your blood vessels against the vessel walls. Just by entering you age, you can get the accurate range of blood pressure value.

Men who developed high blood pressure in middle age or who started out with high blood pressure had a 70 percent risk of having a heart attack or stroke compared to a 41 percent risk for men who maintained low blood pressure or whose blood pressure decreased during the time period. Women who developed high blood pressure had almost a 50 percent risk of a heart attack or stroke compared to a 22 percent risk for those who kept their blood pressure low or saw a decrease.

Men generally have a 55 percent risk of cardiovascular disease in their lifetimes; women have a 40 percent risk.

gOur research suggests people can take preventive steps to keep their blood pressure low early on to reduce their chances of a heart attack or stroke,h said Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, MD, study co-author, chair of preventive medicine at Northwesternfs Feinberg School and a cardiologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. gMaintaining a healthy diet, combined with exercise and weight control, can help reduce blood pressure levels and, consequently, your risk for cardiovascular disease later in life.h

Source-Medindia