High blood pressure is a high-risk disease that can even be life-threatening. For this reason, it is important to always be clear about your values and theMeasure blood pressure regularly, instead of always having this done by a doctor. It is not uncommon for people to suffer from high blood pressure without even knowing it. The Mayo Clinic now explains that high blood pressure can cause vascular dementia.
How does high blood pressure cause vascular dementia?
“Blood pressure is determined by two things: the amount of blood the heart pumps and the resistance to blood flow in the arteries,” explains the Mayo Clinic. The measured values also consist of two numbers. One of them is called the systolic blood pressure value, while the other is called the diastolic blood pressure value. The former is the pressure when the heart beats, when the muscle contracts and thatoxygen-rich blood throughout the bodypumps, while the second indicates the pressure exerted on the arteries when the muscle relaxes again. This is also the lower value.
These values are given in “millimeters of mercury”, with a blood pressure value of 90/60 to 120/80 being considered normal. Anything above that is considered high blood pressure and can cause various illnesses and damage, including, according to the Mayo Clinic, vascular dementia. The organization cites the narrowing of the arteries as the reason, which disrupts blood flow to the brain.
What is vascular dementia and symptoms
Vascular dementia is characterized by a circulatory disorder in the brain, which damages the brain. Depending on where the brain was damaged, there are different types of dementia. Strokes can also be a cause of vascular dementia, but symptoms can also occur without them.
Symptoms of this brain disorder include slower thinking and difficulty and problems with planning, understanding, and concentration. There is also disorientation, confusion and difficulty walking or balance problems.
Avoid or slow down the brain disease
About this oneSo to prevent illness, it is advisable to first get your blood pressure back under control. You can do this in the following ways:
- If you are overweight, you should exercise more to burn fat and achieve a healthy weight. Start slowly and increase your endurance over time to get fitter in a gentle way.
- Avoid, or at least reduce, bad habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
- Eat healthy.
