How Blood Pressure Affects Your Heart Health

It is well-known that having high blood pressure is not good because it can cause kidney and liver damage, and can even cause diseases like alzheimer's. But having high blood pressure can also cause heart diseases. This is because high blood pressure causes the arteries in the heart to pump harder and faster thus, straining them and causing them to become thicker and less efficient.  

How does hypertension cause heart diseases?

As mentioned before high blood pressure puts more strain on the arteries in the heart causing them to pump harder and faster. They narrow in the process because layers of fat, cholesterol, and plaque build up in them, and this dramatically reduces their ability to pump blood to the body efficiently because they harden in the process. This is referred to as atherosclerosis.

If too much fat, cholesterol, and plaque builds up in the arteries, they can become blocked, and this can damage the heart muscle because it starves the muscle from getting vital nutrients that it needs in order to function properly. That part of the heart muscle dies and as a result it can lead to a heart attack or heart failure.

How to prevent heart diseases caused by hypertension?

• The main way to control blood pressure and prevent heart diseases is by eating healthy, exercising regularly, and managing stress.

• When you eat healthy, you should ensure that your diet includes many fresh vegetables (especially green ones), whole grains, and fruits. You should also restrict sodium intake to no more than 2 grams a day.

• The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is perfect for those who want to control hypertension.