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Mayo Clinic Minute: The Dangers Of Hypertension In Young Adults

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a significant risk factor for heart disease and other major health issues. A recent JAMA study shows a large number of Americans between the ages of 18 and 44 aren't even aware that they have high blood pressure. It stresses the importance of regular blood pressure screening for all ages.

Hypertension can be a ticking time bomb in young adults, according to Dr. Barbara Ruddy, a Mayo Clinic internal medicine physician.

"Many times, younger adults have no idea what their blood pressure is, and, so, people will come in and have a significantly elevated blood pressure that's probably been elevated for several years. So it is dangerous because although they may feel fine, down the road, it could cause them significant health issues," says Dr. Ruddy.

Those issues might include heart disease, stroke, visual problems and kidney failure.

"They don't show up for some decades after the development of high blood pressure, but they really do impact people's health in their later years," says Dr. Ruddy.

She encourages getting an accurate blood pressure reading from your health care provider.

"There's many ways to help normalize your blood pressure. You can do that through diet and lifestyle, but we also have many medications that are helpful to control high blood pressure," says Dr. Ruddy.

Eating a heart-healthy diet, limiting salt and alcohol intake, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight are all ways to avoid hypertension.

(c)2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Originally Published: October 21, 2020 at 3:52 PM EDT


The 15 Best Ways To Lower High Blood Pressure Naturally

Regular aerobic exercise is key for strengthening your heart so it doesn't have to work as hard to pump blood throughout your body. And that can help lower your systolic blood pressure (the top number) by as many as nine points, according to the Mayo Clinic.

And walking is one of the simplest forms of aerobic exercise out there — you can do it anywhere, with zero special equipment.

A healthy goal is to walk for at least 30 minutes most days of the week, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to a February 2019 study published in the journal Hypertension, that amount could produce similar effects to blood pressure-lowering medication, although it's important to note that more research needs to be done in this area.

4. Lose Weight

Having overweight can strain your heart and potentially damage your blood vessels, both of which could contribute to high BP.

"There's a clear association between obesity and hypertension," Emmanuel Moustakakis, MD, director of the coronary care unit at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens and assistant professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, tells LIVESTRONG.Com.

The good news? You don't necessarily have to drop tons of weight to see a difference. Losing just 5 to 10 pounds could get you a whole lot closer to a healthier reading, according to the AHA.

5. Try Hand-Grip Exercises

Squeezing a hand gripper (or tennis ball) for a few minutes every day could lower your blood pressure by as much as six points, found a December 2018 Systematic Reviews analysis of 26 studies.

Try squeezing the gripper with one hand for two full minutes, using about half your full strength, Dr. Moustakakis recommends. Rest for two minutes before gripping with your other hand, and repeat the cycle once more.

6. Find Healthy Ways to Relax




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