How Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Affect Your Heart Over Time

High blood pressure occurs when blood pushes against the walls of arteries while your heart pumps blood. When pressure rises for prolonged periods, blood vessels are damaged and become clogged with plaque. This damages the heart over time and can lead to hazardous cardiovascular conditions.

Cholesterol is a substance found in certain foods that, when eaten over time, can lead to large amounts of cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol builds up in the walls of the arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart. You can take care of your heart health by periodically seeing a doctor to check whether your blood pressure and cholesterol levels are normal and within the recommended range.

High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels

To determine blood pressure levels, an individual’s blood pressure is measured by a systolic reading. If the reading is a consistent systolic pressure of 140 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or higher, the blood pressure is considered too high. High blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attacks, or other serious conditions.

High cholesterol levels can lead to obesity. Unhealthy eating patterns and a lack of physical activity are just two ways cholesterol may develop in an individual. Those wishing to manage cholesterol levels should incorporate healthier food choices, exercise, and other lifestyle changes into their daily routine. When healthier habits are introduced, blood pressure and cholesterol levels can be reduced.

Damage Caused by Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

In addition to causing damage to the heart, other organs in the body can be severely injured due to high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, damage from high blood pressure and cholesterol levels can cause:

• A stroke
• Vascular dementia
• An enlarged left heart
• Chronic kidney disease
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• An aneurysm
• Coronary artery disease
• Cognitive impairment
• Nerve damage
• Chest pain
• Blood vessel damage
• Kidney failure
• Metabolic syndrome

To help prevent high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels, consider:

• Eating a healthy diet
• Taking prescribed medication
• Taking part in physical activity
• Quitting smoking
• Limiting alcohol intake

If individuals do their part by making healthy decisions, they can reduce their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Reducing cholesterol and maintaining a healthy blood pressure can positively affect the heart by reducing stress on it.

Services to Determine Heart Health

While over-the-counter options may help assess heart health, it is important to see a professional. A doctor trained in cardiovascular health can provide a wide range of services to determine if an individual has unhealthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Thankfully, numerous services can help determine whether a person has high blood pressure or high cholesterol. The services doctors use can help patients better understand the overall health of the heart.

Services offered by doctors consist of:

• Cardiac CT Imaging
• Stress Testing
• Nuclear Cardiology, also known as the “Nuclear Stress Test”
• Echocardiography
• Cardiac catheterization
• Coronary balloon angioplasty or stenting
• CT peripheral angiography
• Cardiac rhythm management, also known as electrophysiology testing
• Laboratory blood test evaluation

Even if you have recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, there are plenty of ways to stay healthy and receive the medical care needed. Imaging and other tools can help patients learn the severity of their heart problems.

Help Your Heart

For those concerned about heart health, consider finding answers at Apex Cardiology. Not only do we have the industry’s fastest and highest-resolution scanner to provide patients with accurate results, but our physicians are highly trained in cardiovascular care.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment and learn more about your heart health.