Everyone has heard of hypertension, or high blood pressure since almost half of Americans have this problem. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, commonly affects millions worldwide. While it may not seem like a big deal, hypertension can lead to some severe health problems. Here are five ways that hypertension can affect your body:
Heart Disease
The heart is an essential part of the human body. It’s responsible for pumping blood throughout the body and supplying oxygen to the organs. When the heart has to work harder than usual, it can lead to heart disease.
Hypertension strains your heart and arteries, leading to heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, so it’s essential to be aware of the risk factors. Thankfully, there are ways to deal with this. Here are some of them.
Medication
One of the most common ways to prevent heart disease through hypertension is by using the medicine. A newly approved medication by the FDA known as Farxiga can help reduce the risk of heart failure in people with hypertension.
Diet and Exercise
Diet and exercise are two critical factors in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They can also help reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Eating a healthy diet and regular exercise can help lower blood pressure.
Cutting out unhealthy foods and drinks, such as those high in sodium, can help to reduce blood pressure. Getting regular exercise can also help to lower blood pressure.
Tooth Loss
Many people don’t know this, but hypertension can lead to tooth loss. When the blood pressure is high, it can damage the gums and the tissues that support the teeth. This can also lead to the inflammation of the gums. This damage can eventually lead to tooth loss. Here are things you need to do to deal with tooth loss caused by hypertension.
Tooth Replacement
If you’ve lost teeth due to hypertension, you’ll need to replace them immediately. This will ensure that your mouth is free from any bacterial infection. Dental implants are your best option. They will give you a natural-looking smile and are also very strong. They are made of titanium and are placed into your jawbone.
Decrease Sugar Intake
Sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay and hypertension. When you have hypertension, controlling your sugar intake is important to prevent tooth loss. You can avoid sugary foods and drinks, such as candy, cake, and soda.
Kidney Disease
Hypertension can damage the small blood vessels in your kidneys, leading to kidney disease. Kidney disease can be mild or severe; if it progresses too far, it can lead to kidney failure. Kidney failure requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive. If you have hypertension, get regular checkups so that kidney disease can be caught early and treated effectively. Here are some ways you can avoid kidney disease.
Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol can lead to both hypertension and kidney disease. It’s essential to avoid alcohol if you have hypertension. If you do drink, limit yourself to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
Avoid Softdrinks
Alcohol isn’t the only one responsible for hypertension and kidney disease. Soft drinks can also be to blame. Soft drinks, such as soda and energy drinks, are high in sugar and calories. They can also lead to weight gain, which can increase blood pressure.
Memory Problems
Hypertension has been linked to memory problems and dementia later in life. This is thought to be due to the damage caused by hypertension to the small vessels in the brain. Here are some ways to keep your brain healthy throughout the years.
Do Puzzles
Puzzles are a great way to keep your mind sharp. They can help improve your memory and cognitive function.
Play Video Games
Interestingly enough, video games can also help improve your memory. They can help increase your brain’s ability to process information quickly.
Erectile Dysfunction
Because hypertension damages the small arteries throughout your body and can lead to erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is defined as difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection. This is problematic for those who want to have children in the future. Medication usually helps with this problem, but if not, there are other options, such as a penile implant. This kind of implant is a rod that is placed in the penis. This can help deal with the problem, but not with hypertension. For that, you need to stay healthy.
Hypertension can have many detrimental effects on your body. It’s essential to be aware of the risks and take steps to prevent them. Following the tips above can lower your risk of developing hypertension-related problems.
