dementia: Reduced blood flow and vessel damage in the brain can impair cognition and cause dementia.
Managing blood pressure through lifestyle and medication reduces these risks substantially.
- Lifestyle factors impacting blood pressure
Several modifiable lifestyle factors influence blood pressure levels. Addressing these can prevent or help control hypertension:
Diet: Excessive salt intake raises blood pressure by increasing fluid retention. Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy (such as the DASH diet) support healthy blood pressure.
Physical activity: Regular moderate exercise improves vascular function and helps maintain a healthy weight, lowering blood pressure.
Weight management: Being overweight increases cardiac workload and blood pressure; losing even a modest amount of weight can have beneficial effects.
Alcohol consumption: Heavy or regular drinking raises blood pressure; limiting intake to moderate levels is advisable.
Smoking: Tobacco use damages blood vessels and acutely raises blood pressure; quitting smoking lowers cardiovascular risk.
- Medications affecting
