Diabetes and heart experts say that as many as two-thirds of people with diabetes also have high blood pressure. That’s compared to only a third among all U.S. adults.
So how do you know if you have high blood pressure? Unfortunately, it’s not always evident — and that’s too bad because it causes many health risks.
“High blood pressure is called a silent killer because most people don’t have any symptoms of hypertension, even though it is causing damage to the cardiovascular system,” says Dr. Michelle Glasgow, a family medicine specialist with Kaiser Permanente in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Over time, high blood pressure damages the arteries’ normally smooth linings and creates spots where calcium and fat deposits build up. This buildup, also known as plaque, leads to a condition called atherosclerosis, Glasgow says. “Your heart has to work harder to squeeze blood through,” says internist Dr. Mary Ann Bauman, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.
[See: The Best Foods for Lowering Your Blood Pressure.]
Over time, atherosclerosis can lead to stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease and heart attack and kidney failure. It can even lead to eye damage and blindness.
In fact, the risks from long-term high blood pressure are similar to the risks from diabetes.
In a visit with your health care provider, you’ll find out your blood pressure through two important numbers. “The first number is systolic and is generated when the heart pumps blood into the blood vessels,” says Dr. Kirubakaran Munuswamy, a cardiologist at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “The second number is called diastolic and is recorded as the blood vessels relax in between heartbeats.”
A healthy blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg; your doctor may say that as 120 over 80. High blood pressure is higher than 140/90 mmHg.
It’s not completely clear why people with diabetes are at a greater risk for high blood pressure, Glasgow says. “The conditions that contribute to [Type 2] diabetes — being overweight, a poor diet and inactivity — also lead to hypertension,” she explains.
There are also certain things that can raise your risk specifically for high blood pressure, including:
— A family history
— An older age
— Being African-American
— Being overweight or obese
— Smoking
— Using too much salt in your diet
— Consuming too much alcohol
There are also medicines that raise the risk for high blood pressure, including contraceptive bills and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen, Munuswamy says.
[See: The 12 Best Diets to Prevent and Manage Diabetes.]
Having high blood pressure may seem scary, but here are some things you can do to lower your risk for it.
Get rid of extra weight. Even losing just 10 pounds can make a difference in lowering blood pressure and reducing the need for blood pressure medications, Glasgow says. If you can lose 7 to 10 percent of your body weight, you can reduce your systolic blood pressure by 5 to 20 mmHg.
Don’t smoke. Nicotine increases your blood pressure and heart rate when it’s used, so getting rid of the cigs is a great way to lower your blood pressure.
Eat right. There’s a type of diet called the DASH Diet, which is short for the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and low-fat dairy products and helps followers reduce their blood pressure. “The DASH diet can reduce systolic blood pressure by as much as 8 to 14 mmHg,” Munuswamy says. Ask your health provider if DASH is right for you.
Read labels for sodium content and monitor your daily intake. Using your salt shaker likely isn’t the problem; it’s the sodium that’s part of processed foods. A general guideline is limiting sodium consumption to 2,400 milligrams a day — but many of us eat 3,500 to 4,000 milligrams daily, Bauman says. If you’re particularly at high risk for hypertension, your health team may recommend keeping your intake as low as 1,500 milligrams a day.
When you have diabetes, you should already be reading food labels closely, Bauman says. You may be surprised to find certain foods that have high sodium counts, such as breads, pastries, pizzas, lunch meats and soups. Work with a registered dietitian or certified diabetes educator to help make healthier and lower sodium food choices.
Take the right medications. If you have high blood pressure, your health care provider may decide to prescribe medicines to help lower it. These types of medicines can include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, also known as ACE inhibitors; angiotensin II receptor blockers, diuretics and beta blockers. If your doctor thinks you need one or more of these medicines, take them, Bauman advises. That may seem obvious, but she says only 54 percent of patients with hypertension in the U.S. have their condition under control. Patients choose not to use their blood pressure meds, thinking that they’re not necessary or they just don’t want to add more meds to their routine. However, that can be risky in the long run if your blood pressure continues to run high.
Also, talk with your health care provider about any interactions that blood pressure medications may have with your diabetes meds. You’ll want to be aware of potential side effects.
[See: 10 Lessons From Empowered Patients.]
Move more. Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity, such as walking, at least five days a week.
Watch the alcohol. Drinking can raise your blood pressure, so if you must imbibe, stick to no more than one to two drinks a day for a man and one drink daily for a woman.
If you have sleep apnea, get it treated. Treatment of sleep apnea with a CPAP device is shown to be effective in lowering blood pressure, Munuswamy says.
Find ways to lower your stress. “Some hypertension sufferers also find relief in alternative treatments such as acupuncture, meditation, yoga and other methods of stress reduction,” Glasgow says. Although these steps don’t replace a healthy diet and exercise, they can play a complementary role in tackling hypertension.
One caution Bauman shares is that even if you reduce your blood pressure, you’re still at risk for dangerous health problems like having a stroke if you have diabetes. However, making the health changes above will go a long way in improving your overall health.
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What to Know About High Blood Pressure If You Have Diabetes originally appeared on usnews.com
