Archives: January 2024
High Blood Pressure and Cognitive Health
As if we needed more warnings about high blood pressure, Brazilian research¹ has shown that hypertension, even for short periods in middle-aged and older adults, can increase the rate of cognitive decline. Cognitive decline is a normal part of aging, but issues such as high blood pressure can speed up the process. For some, however, this can turn into more severe conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Cognitive function includes memory, concentration, attention span, thinking, and fluency.
Of particular concern is that estimates now show upwards of half of all adults in the United States have high blood pressure.
Does a Heart Attack Mean the End of Life as I Know It?
There is very little that puts more trepidation into the minds of our patients than the prospect of a heart attack. We even use the term to describe some of the most dramatic goings-on in our lives. To be sure, with heart disease being the leading killer of adults in the United States, we should be very concerned about our cardiovascular health, especially if we have any of the risk factors of heart disease.