Is Your Parent Suffering from High Blood Pressure?

April 27, 2016

Senior Care in Menlo Park CA

Whether you have been caring for your elderly parent for some time or are just getting started on your senior care journey, there are some conditions and issues that you have likely heard a

considerable amount about. One of these is hypertension. Also referred to as high blood pressure, this condition is fairly common among aging adults and can be a contributing factor to a variety of health complications and issues. Understanding this condition and being able to recognize the potential signs and symptoms of it can help you to keep them safer and healthier throughout their later years. Some things that you should know about hypertension include:

Nearly 30 percent of adults throughout the United States suffer from high blood pressure. This accounts for around 70 million adults
Only just over 50 percent of those with high blood pressure can truly consider their condition under control
An estimated 20 percent of those with the condition do not yet know that they have it
Another 30 percent of adults throughout the United States are in a health state referred to as "pre-hypertension". This refers to blood pressure that is higher than ideal but that has not yet reached the level of being truly considered hypertension
Men and women are approximately equally likely to develop hypertension at some point in their lives, but the risk changes with age. Men are more likely to develop high blood pressure earlier in life, while those who receive a diagnosis of hypertension after the age of 64 are much more likely to be women

There are some situations and conditions that increase the chances that your parent will suffer from hypertension. Knowing these risk factors can help you be more aware of whether your parent may be dealing with this condition so that you can be more vigilant about their symptoms. Some of these risk factors include:

Age
Blacks are much more likely to develop hypertension than whites, and are more likely to experience the severe potential complications of the condition, including stroke and kidney failure
Family history
Being over an ideal weight, especially obese
Not getting enough physical activity
Using tobacco products. This applies to both smoking tobacco products and chewing tobacco
Consuming too much sodium
Consuming too much alcohol
Not getting enough vitamin D n their regular diet
Not getting enough potassium in their regular diet
Experiencing high levels of stress
Having chronic conditions such as sleep apnea, kidney disease, or diabetes

There is a very common misconception that seniors with hypertension can "feel" it or will automatically have very clear symptoms. The reality, however, is that most people do not experience any symptoms at all when they have hypertension. They may experience signs such as nosebleeds, headaches, or shortness of breath, but most likely there will be no symptoms. This makes it vital that you ensure your parent gets the proper screenings for high blood pressure and that you follow through with any guidelines their doctor presents to keep blood pressure under control.

If you or an aging loved one are looking for senior care in Menlo Park, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care. Call today!

Santa Clara County: (408) 979-9990 San Mateo County: (650) 353-9777 Santa Cruz County: (831) 480-3990

Sources: http://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/basics/definition/con-20019580

Tags: Senior Care in Menlo Park CA

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