It’s been known for a long time that blood pressure is at the core of many serious health problems, and not just ones directly related to the heart. High blood pressure can have numerous different effects on the body, pretty much all of them negative – and with each new study that’s concluded on the topic of blood pressure, one thing is starting to get clearer. Addressing problems with the condition can have profound positive effects on one’s wellbeing as a whole.
Most recently, a study spanning across over 100,000 people was conducted, which seems to indicate a link between high blood pressure and diabetes. Diabetics are more susceptible to the negative effects of high blood pressure, compared to someone in a normal state of health, so the problem becomes even more serious for them.
Different numbers have been given as “optimal” ranges for the blood pressure of a diabetic patient, and the average have been getting lower and lower with each new study. Previously, it was thought that a systolic pressure of around 140 was acceptable, but now the number has gone down to 130, and even lower according to some experts.
According to a recent analysis, reducing the systolic pressure by 10 points, down from 140 to 130, resulted in a 13% lower risk of preventable death. At the same time, the risk of heart disease went down by 12%, stroke became less likely by 26%, while the prevalence of diabetes-triggered blindness was decreased by 13%. Last but not least, albuminuria occurrences decrease by 17%, which was good news for people prone to kidney problems
It’s currently being debated in some circles whether a patient should aim for a systolic pressure lower than 130. While some physicians are claiming that it would be beneficial to decrease the pressure even further if possible, others state that patients should be careful and not push themselves too much towards the lower thresholds of their blood pressure.
Dr. Kazem Rahimi, who co-authored the study, added that a diabetic patient with indications of high blood pressure who’s currently not being medicated for the condition, could very likely benefit from starting a course of medication. If a patient’s systolic pressure is at 135 points or higher, there could be a very noticeable positive effect from taking medication for high blood pressure.
More information will probably come to light in the coming months/years, as blood pressure is still being studied very actively, with new revelations coming out on a regular basis. Medical science is still not that far when it comes to dealing with blood pressure, although we have certainly made some progress over the years, and patients today have much better prospects for their future than those a few decades ago.