Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is written as two numbers separated by a slash. A doctor will say a blood pressure reading of 120/80 as “120 over 80.” The top number represents the force of blood pressing against the blood vessel walls when the heart is contracting. The bottom number represents the pressure when the heart is at rest between contractions. You should keep your blood pressure below 140/90 unless your doctor sets a different goal. Controlling your blood pressure can help protect your heart and kidneys.
High BP can cause Kidney and Heart problems
High Blood Pressure – A Foe to Kidney and Heart
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels. With high blood pressure, your heart works harder to pump blood, which can strain your heart. High blood pressure can damage your blood vessels. If high blood pressure damages the small blood vessels in your kidneys, your kidneys will not filter your blood as well as they should.
High blood pressure is not only a cause of kidney problems but also heart problems. Damaged kidneys are unable to filter extra water and salt from your body – which in turn increases blood pressure. A dangerous cycle results as each disease makes the other worse.
You are more likely to develop kidney problems if you have
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- lupus
- a family member who has kidney failure
You are more likely to develop heart problems if you have
- high blood pressure
- high blood cholesterol, a blood fat
- diabetes
- kidney disease
- a family history of early heart disease
You are also more likely to develop heart problems if you
- smoke
- eat a diet high in the wrong kinds of fats
- have too much sodium—often from salt—in your diet
- are overweight
- don’t exercise
- are manage 45 or older
- are a woman age 55 or older
What Should You Do?
A regular check on your BP will keep you updated. However, tracking blood pressure on a regular basis can be an inconvenient task, but with innovation in healthcare, you simply need to reach out to your smartphone and download free “Sanket Life” app to monitor your cholesterol intake. The app not only helps you in logging your BP, cholesterol, and sugar but also connects to Sanket ECG Monitor and monitors your ECG. If the user is unable to understand his or her ECG, it can be sent for review for a small fee. The app also measures stress levels. Android | iOS
Our world is equipped with technology and the internet enables doctors to remotely diagnose critical ailments. Our phones have enormous potential and all this innovation is at our disposal. Whether we use it for the benefit or just play mindless candy games depends totally on us.
Content developed with the help of NIDDK
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