Link found between high blood pressure and cognitive decline

It appears medical study has proven again why we need to keep our blood pressure in check. A new study from the National Institute of Health has revealed that having high blood pressure could have a significant effect on your likelihood for developing cognitive issues. Simply put, those who have even just risk factors for health issues such as stroke could still be doing damage to their brains.

The observation was made as part of a larger study on stroke risks where age, blood pressure, smoking, and heart enlargement were taken into account. According to their findings, “each 10 mmHG increase in systolic blood pressure — the top number in a blood pressure reading — was tied with an approximately 4 percent increase in risk of cognitive decline.”

There currently is no full explanation for the tie-in between vascular health and cognitive decline, however it’s possible that undue wear caused on the smaller blood vessels in the brain as a result of vascular issues could be a culprit.

To be safe, get yourself checked for high blood pressure by your doctor, and if you’ve already been diagnosed with it, follow your physician’s instructions on addressing it.

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The hazards of living alone

Studies have shown that elderly people who live by themselves have an increased chance of dying sooner than their accompanied counterparts, but the reasons behind it may surprise you. In a great number of cases, many casualties could be traced by to a lack of accountability. With no one around to provide a watchful eye, access to healthy meals, and occasional simple reminders to “do the right thing”; many elders wind up maintaining bad habits like smoking and eating processed food that lead to health problems.

In other instances, having another person in the house meant that CPR and 911 calls were made available sooner, extending the person’s life (although experts still advise using emergency alert services that employ alert bracelets and pendants.) Protecting against falls during the holiday season, when Christmas decor start getting strung up, can be prevented by using step-stools instead of chairs. Building and maintaining a network of friends and family is also key, since being social has been proven to lower high blood pressure and reduce stress.

Seniors may not necessarily think of these solutions themselves, so the responsibility may lie in their children and grandchildren’s hands to keep Grampa and Grams out of harm’s way.

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