How High Blood Pressure in middle age affect your Memory in Old Age

The current research and report gives another recap that tomorrow may not be as good as today when you have hysterical high blood pressure.In this post we'll find out how High Blood Pressure Symptoms affect your memory in later stage .

Case Study:

Researchers followed the health as well as mental activities of little more than 13,000 men and women between 45 to 64 years age, for more than two decades. The study comprise of around 3/4^th white and 1/4^th African-American. When the study started, the participants took checks on their thinking skills and memory between 1990 and 1992. The participants took the same tests after six years, and again third time between 2011 and 2013. A record was kept of their blood pressure and researchers also documented the medicines taken by participants, if any, to control the blood pressure.

Over the age there was a broad decline in memory and reasoning skills (collectively referred as cognitive function). However it was evident that loss of cognitive function was more attributable to people with relatively high blood pressure in middle age:

·    The deterioration in cognitive function among members with high blood pressure was 6.5% higher than members with normal blood pressure.

·  The loss of cognitive function among members with high blood pressure was more noticeable in whites as compared to African-Americans. On the other hand, since African-Americans had a greater death rate before the third set of checks, the scientists believe the result might have been different had the African-Americans could have survived.

·    Participants, who identified the symptoms of high blood pressure and took measures to control including supplements and medicines in their midlife, had relatively smaller loss of cognitive function as compared to the participants who left high blood pressure untreated.

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·    Participants with normal blood pressure in midlife who in their late 60s, 70s, and 80s were diagnosed with high blood pressure had similar test scores as compared to participants who had normal blood pressure throughout the life.

This gives more confirmation that hypertension adds to loss of cognitive function (memory loss and difficulty in thinking) over the long term. The tests also show that the loss of cognitive function will be more as the person lives longer with high blood pressure.

Relation between memory and High blood pressure

The above study was first of its kind which monitored the cognitive function and blood pressure for 20 years. The main strength of this study is its duration.  However be remembered that the study conducted was only observational study. The study cannot show that the decline in cognitive function is caused by high blood pressure. On the other hand it certainly doesn’t show that in middle age, if you are treating high blood pressure is going to protects thinking skills and memory.

The study report functions as a reminder to watch symptoms of blood pressure and actual readings. Normal blood pressure is under 120/80. Many experts and dietitian differ on the opinion in when to start treating high blood pressure, how to treat marginal high BP and how much to lower the BP. However most agree that people under 60 with high BP should aim to reduce the reading under 140/90. Even so, patients age, general health and medication use shall be taken in to account before giving individual recommendations. The suitable aim for those with high blood pressure and way to reduce it is, a dialogue with your doctor. Remember blood pressure tomorrow may not be as controllable as it is today. Kal ho na ho.

Avoiding blood pressure from getting into the red mark is always a better solution than treating high blood pressure. Following lifestyle plans are exceptional ways to do this:

•  If you are in 30s and 40s and have a family history of high blood pressure, it is always best to start a Salmon Omega 3 supplement which will help in longer term.
• ·         Limit your salt intake. Avoid processed food which is common source of hidden salt in your diet.
• ·         Reduce your weight to the healthy range
• ·      Choose a heart-healthy diet with abundantly vegetables and fruits. Contact best dietitian at dietkundali.com
• ·         Remember, it’s not only the proteins and carbs that count in healthy diet. Vitamins and Minerals play an important role in managing the oxidative stress in your body. Generate vitamin and mineral status of the food you are eating at Diet Kundali.
• ·         Exercise 30 minutes a day, at least five days in a week
• ·         Limit the alcohol to  one drink a day for women and two for men in one day
• ·         Quit smoking or use of tobacco products

The longer you are breathing with normal blood pressure, you are likely to have less memory and thinking problems when you grow older.