Does the senior in your life have a frail physique and high blood pressure? New research suggests that he or she may have a longer life expectancy than larger, full-figured seniors with the same condition.
HealthDay News reports that a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine on July 16 claims that in frail elders, high blood pressure may actually help protect against threats like heart attack or stroke. In healthy seniors, high blood pressure, or hypertension, can pose a serious risk to heart health.
“Older frail adults might benefit from slightly higher blood pressure,” said study author Michelle Odden, a public health epidemiologist at Oregon State University. “As the blood vessels get more stiff with age, it may be necessary to have more pressure to keep blood pumping to the central organs, like the brain and heart.”
Over 2,300 seniors participated in the study, which included walking-speed tests to determine frailty and speed. Elders were asked to walk 20 feet at their normal pace, and those who walked less than 2.6 feet per second were more likely than those who walked faster than 2.6 feet to have diabetes, heart disease and related health problems, according to the source.
In addition to having better health, faster walkers with normal blood pressure had lower instances of passing away during the study period versus those with higher blood pressure. Researchers also found that seniors with higher blood pressure were 62 percent less likely to die during the study period.
According to the American Heart Association, hypertension poses a risk to the arteries, which over time can be stretched beyond a healthy limit to accommodate blood that is pumped too forcefully through arteries. This can result in vascular weakness, blockage, blood clotting and damage to surrounding tissues and organs. Blood pressure numbers above 180 for the systolic pressure or 110 for the diastolic pressure are considered dangerous and may require emergency treatment.
If the senior in your life suffers from heart-related issues, urge him or her to consider an all-natural supplement by Dr. Newton’s Naturals like OmegaKrill. These tablets can help support healthy blood pressure levels and circulatory system function, which may help your relative preserve overall heart wellness.
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