High blood pressure
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is one of the leading causes of kidney disease. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to follow your doctor’s recommendations for lowering your blood pressure and take all medications exactly as prescribed to help protect your health and your kidneys.
What is high blood pressure?
• Blood pressure is a measurement of the pressure on the walls of arteries as blood flows through the body.
• High blood pressure, also called high blood pressure, means this force is always too high.
• Blood pressure measurements have 2 digits. Systolic blood pressure (top number) measures the pressure exerted by the blood as the heart beats. Diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) measures the pressure exerted by the blood when the heart is between beats. It is usually expressed as systolic blood pressure “exceeding” diastolic blood pressure.
• Hypertension is a systolic blood pressure of 140 or more, or a diastolic blood pressure of 90 or more.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
Even if blood pressure is very high, there are usually no symptoms or warning signs, and the potential complications are extremely serious. Risks of high blood pressure include heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.
Can high blood pressure cause kidney disease?
The kidneys use blood vessels to remove waste products, toxins, and excess fluid from the blood. Hypertension means high pressure is constantly exerted on artery walls throughout the body, damaging blood vessels over time.
Damage to blood vessels, including hardening and narrowing of the arteries around the kidneys, can prevent the kidneys from purifying the blood, ultimately leading to kidney disease.
Kidney disease or kidney failure caused by high blood pressure can take years to develop. If you have been diagnosed with kidney disease, it is important to know that there are steps you can take to manage your kidney disease.
How to lower high blood pressure?
Lowering your blood pressure is important for your overall health. Your doctor can develop a treatment plan to help you control your blood pressure. Here are some steps to discuss:
- Eat a kidney-friendly diet
- Engage in regular physical activity
- Manage stress
- Quit smoking
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Limit caffeine, alcohol and salt intake
- Taking any prescription medications
If you have questions about diabetic kidney disease, talk to your doctor or nurse.