Posted on 04/27/2023 7:17:33 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
Intensive blood pressure treatment significantly reduces the risk of adverse cerebrovascular events such as stroke. New research shows evidence of how the brain benefits from consistently lower blood pressure.
The study is a follow-up analysis of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), a multicenter clinical trial that compared intensive systolic blood pressure control (target less than 120 mm Hg) versus standard control (target less than 140 mm Hg). SPRINT enrolled participants aged 50 or older with hypertension and without diabetes or a history of stroke.
"Our study demonstrates that lowering systolic blood pressure to below 120 mm Hg is more effective in preserving brain health compared to standard treatment goals," said Mohamad Habes, Ph.D.,.
Patients receiving intensive blood pressure treatment showed reduced white matter lesions in frontal and posterior deep white matter, and improved blood flow, indicating better overall brain health, Habes said. White matter lesions are among the changes that can be associated with Alzheimer's disease, non–Alzheimer's disease cognitive impairment and advanced brain aging, he said.
The paper highlights that intensive blood pressure treatment can slow down vascular brain injury, potentially contributing to the preservation of cognitive function in older adults, said Tanweer Rashid, Ph.D.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Drugs also are the most immediate choice to get pressure down, and to prevent damage, this is the best short-term approach. Of course, it is often the long-term choice, because the changes needed are often too difficult to achieve.
Do note that more recently, it is believed a slightly higher blood pressure is normal, for older people.
Consider chronically high blood pressure equivalent to rotting your organs, because that’s effectively what it does, and your brain, eyes, and kidneys are particularly delicate.
I’ve been on top of BP for some time. It took some work (”givin’ up the booze and the one night stands”) but at my last checkup it was 116/61. Not bad for an old fart.
Unless you have a blockage, beer root powder works great.
A teaspoon works for me, but my husband needed more than double that amount.
You can buy capsules, but you will need to take 4/5 to get a teaspoon.
Sorry...typo...
BEER root powder.
Ooo...
Spell check
BEET
Excellent!
So if I drink a root beer or two a day, that would help?
Stress. How about a govt that while on the surface says they care about people, how about not attsmlting to keep disarming us, not trying to mandate clot shots, and not deliberately destroying our economy and implememting agenda 21?
I will speculate that almost all people over age 70 would need to take daily medication to keep blood pressure under 120.
For this slender and fit age 70+ old guy, daily blood pressure medication is absolutely never going to happen!
I’ve had high BP since high school, genetics suck. I went many years with perfect weight, no salt, no smoker, no drinker ever, exercise etc... still the BP was always high. My doctor through my 20’s wanted BP in 130/85-90 range and he was a $ hound wanting test after test after test. Told me he would do whatever he wanted to me as my dr. I told him really, that’s hard to do when you are fired.
Next dr wanted BP down and changed my meds and got me for a good solid 20 year run of readings in the 120/74 range. I took Lisinopril and half a fluid pill in that time frame with the only side effects being a dry cough for a few minutes when I went to bed each night and more trips to the bathroom. I had very little feet and leg swelling.
I hit my late 50’s and last February I woke up from a dead sleep in a cold sweat and didn’t feel right about 2:45am. Felt like very mild indigestion, no pain, just annoyance. I went to the bathroom and then sat in the rocker in my bedroom for 15 mins and then saw a pulse ox on the nightstand and clipped it on my finger and I was popping at 179 beats a minute sitting still so I went to the ER and they got the pulse slowed to the 70’s.
After multiple tests, and cath, no blockages but they found my heart was damaged from apparently racing off and on for years. I never could tell it, thought it was acid reflux which I do have. I had no other symptoms, shortness of breath ect... From the heart event which they won’t call a heart attack (afib flutter and congestive heart failure) to the cath, about a 4 week period my heart repaired itself significantly they found during the cath. But they changed my BP meds to a smaller dose of Lisinopril and a higher dosage of fluid pill and the BP’s staying the same but added a heart medication and blood thinner. Since then I have noted swelling in my legs more which has me puzzled considering the increase in the fluid pill dosage and MANY more trips to the potty and the blood thinner makes it easy to bruise. But the meds appear to be working as I have had no further issues with the heart since.
You have my sympathies. You’ve been through the mill. Genetics can be a b!tch.
At age 66, suffering from “congestive heart failure” my MD told me Lisinopril was the wrong med, and put me on Metoprolol.
After a month of tracking my BP, my Cardiologist took me off BP meds entirely—at age 79.
(And my BP cuff read somewhat higher—in the office—than his that day). I’m to return once a year now.
Actually I am on Metoprolol as well. The Lispronil is .10mg. I have a follow up for the cath monday, I may ask about that. tks!
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