Hypertension Makes You Look And Feel Older Than You Are! Learn Why

For ages, conversations around hypertension have primarily focused on cardiovascular diseases and related risks. There’s a prevailing notion that hypertension can only kick in at the later stage of one’s life, somewhere around the late 50s or 60s. However, recent studies have completely erased these notions. According to research presented at the Cardiological Society of India (CSI), one in five young adults in India has high blood pressure. This stat underlines the gravity of the disease and the urgency to act on it.

Hypertension is a highly prevalent condition with a wide number of health risks associated with it. But did you know? Untreated hypertension can have a lasting impact not just on your heart but also on your skin and hair? Yes, you read that right! Hypertension can impact the way you look and feel. In fact, it’s one of the leading causes of primitive ageing as it affects your skin’s elasticity as well as your cognitive abilities. Read on to know the ways in which hypertension can affect your skin and brain.

High blood pressure and age

High blood pressure causes restricted blood flow and prevents oxygen from flowing freely into the body, which leads to several skin-related issues. In addition, it impairs your memory, causing you to lose selected cognitive abilities earlier than you think. Here are some conditions that might be caused by hypertension.

Hypertension and wrinkles

Wrinkles are a common sign of ageing. But wrinkles at an early age can be concerning as they can also be a sign of elevated blood pressure. Premature wrinkles may be caused by the thinning of arteries which restricts the oxygen flow from the blood to your heart and other organs, the largest among these being your skin. And lack of oxygen leads to lesser moisture in the skin. Which further causes dry and wrinkled skin at an early age.

Hypertension and sleep issues

Sleep is vital for one’s body to rejuvenate itself and repair its wear and tear. Consequently, lack of sleep can impact a lot of bodily functions. And high blood pressure and sleep disorders are closely linked. High blood pressure can cause poorer sleep quality which in turn accelerates skin deterioration and ageing. This is because lack of sleep doesn’t give the skin the time it needs to repair itself leading to prolonged skin issues.

Stress and high blood pressure

It’s a known fact that hypertension and stress go hand in hand. When your body is in a stressful situation it experiences a surge of hormones. This hormonal surge spikes your blood pressure temporarily, causing your heart to beat faster and your blood vessels to narrow further. Apart from this, did you know that increased levels of stress can reflect on your skin as well? Your skin might respond to stress in the form of acne. Treating acne can be a tedious process, and getting rid of it might be extremely taxing. Not just that! People suffering from acne have also shown signs of lower self-confidence.

Hypertension and increased risks of diabetes

Although there’s no proven relationship between high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, both these diseases share many contributing factors including obesity, increased fat and sodium intake, chronic inflammation, and lack of activity. Sugar, which is one of the major contributing factors to both these diseases, is also a cause for many skin-related issues. This happens because excessive sugar intake can damage blood vessels, which leads to poorer skin health.

Hypertension and the brain

The essential element for the brain to function optimally is a nourishing supply of blood. And hypertension may affect this very aspect. It can lead to a range of brain abnormalities, including Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), a stroke, dementia, and mild cognitive impairment, among others. TIA is a temporary disruption of blood supply to the brain that leads to the hardening of arteries or blood clots that are typically caused by high blood pressure. Untreated TIA can often lead to a full-blown stroke where brain cells are caused to die. Another problem is that of dementia which is caused by narrowed or blocked arteries. Hypertension can also cause mild cognitive impairment that might otherwise have been a product of ageing.

Conclusion

As alarming as these facts may sound, hypertension can be fought or avoided altogether with a few lifestyle changes and cautious decisions. One important thing to keep in mind is that high blood pressure knows no age. It can occur in young adults as well and hence, ignoring its signs at an early stage can be problematic.

Furthermore, checking your BP levels at regular intervals and keeping track of them can be helpful.

It’s also advisable to follow a healthy lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep. But the most important thing to tackle the problem of hypertension is to consult a medical expert and seek treatment. And you can connect with some of the best doctors and leading experts through our comprehensive portal, BPinControl.