High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
While it might not seem serious at first, having high blood pressure over time can cause significant harm to the brain.
Research shows that hypertension is a major risk factor for both stroke and dementia. Understanding this connection can help you take steps to protect your brain health.
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. When it’s too high, it puts extra strain on blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the brain.
Over time, this strain can damage the blood vessels, making them less flexible and more prone to narrowing or blockage. This damage plays a big role in the development of stroke and dementia.
A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, either because of a blood clot (ischemic stroke) or because a blood vessel bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). In both cases, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and nutrients, leading to their death.
Studies have shown that people with uncontrolled high blood pressure are up to four times more likely to have a stroke compared to those with normal blood pressure. High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke worldwide.
The effects of high blood pressure on the brain aren’t limited to strokes. Hypertension is also linked to dementia, a condition that affects memory, thinking, and decision-making. One type of dementia, called vascular dementia, is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain.
Hypertension contributes to this by narrowing or blocking the small blood vessels in the brain, leading to tiny, undetected strokes over time. These small strokes may not cause immediate symptoms but can add up to significant damage, increasing the risk of dementia.
Hypertension also increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.
Research suggests that damage to blood vessels caused by high blood pressure may make it harder for the brain to clear harmful proteins, such as beta-amyloid, which accumulate in Alzheimer’s disease.
A study in The Lancet Neurology found that people with uncontrolled hypertension in midlife had a higher risk of developing dementia later in life.
The good news is that controlling high blood pressure can significantly reduce the risk of both stroke and dementia. Studies have shown that even small reductions in blood pressure can make a big difference.
For example, research published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that lowering systolic blood pressure (the top number) by just 10 mmHg reduced the risk of stroke by 27%.
Lifestyle changes are a key part of managing hypertension. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, such as the DASH diet, can help lower blood pressure.
Reducing salt intake, staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking are also crucial. Medications prescribed by your doctor, such as ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers, can help keep blood pressure in a healthy range.
By managing blood pressure, you’re not just protecting your heart—you’re also safeguarding your brain. Keeping hypertension under control is one of the most important things you can do to lower your risk of stroke and dementia.
It’s never too early or too late to take action, and small steps today can lead to better brain health for years to come.
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