Killing You Softly

How are you doing? I pose this question to you as it is what I ask myself every day. I sometimes ask this multiple times a day. I check in with myself as a way to take a breath and look inward. It has nothing to do with any physical ailments I may be dealing with. It is a way to manage, to the best of my ability, stress levels.

This is something I have learned to do over the past 2 years. It is a question where the answer is not always what I want. But it is something i have to do, something I need to do.

Short spikes in blood pressure can be caused by stress. These short spikes may cause heart attacks or strokes, as well as damaging blood vessels, the heart and kidneys over time.

According to an article from Mayo Clinic, “The body releases a surge of hormones when under stress. These hormones cause the heart to beat faster and the blood vessels to narrow. These actions increase blood pressure for a time.

There's no proof that stress by itself causes long-term high blood pressure. But reacting to stress in unhealthy ways can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Behaviors linked to higher blood pressure include:

• Drinking too much alcohol or caffeine.

• Eating unhealthy foods.

• Eating too much.

• Not moving enough.”

Approximately 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, however, most are not aware. Sometimes referred to as a “silent killer”, high blood pressure (or hypertension) usually has no warning signs but can lead to life-threatening conditions.

When you have normal blood flow, nutrients and oxygen are delivered to all parts of your body, especially the heart, brain, and kidneys. As your heart pushes blood through the body by way of blood vessels, they constantly adjust to maintain blood pressure and keep blood flowing at a healthy rate. Blood pressure is affected by many variables including food, exercise, and as mentioned, stress.

High Blood Pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney failure. An article from Cleveland Clinic elaborates on this by stating “High blood pressure puts increased stress on your blood vessels in the kidneys, including filtering units that are responsible for cleaning your blood. Over time, these blood vessels can thicken, similar to other parts of the body, and the filtering units can form scars. Both of these changes can lead to your kidneys not working properly (Chronic Kidney Disease) and they stop doing their job — removing wastes and extra fluid from your body. When your kidneys don’t work well they can cause further increases in blood pressure by releasing certain hormones or by causing retention of salt and water in your body.”

Kidney Friendly Tips from the CDC regarding High Blood Pressure include:

• Keep your blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg (or ask your doctor what the best blood pressure target is for you).

• If your blood pressure is high, check it regularly and get it under control to make sure your kidneys stay healthy.

• Take medications as instructed, and ask your doctor about blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors and ARBs, which may protect your kidneys in addition to lowering blood pressure.

• Talk to your doctor about medicines that harm your kidneys and other ways to lower your blood pressure.

• Keeping your kidneys healthy will also help take care of your heart.

• Get active — physical activity helps manage blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

• Eat foods lower in salt.

• Eat more fruits and vegetables.

• If you smoke, quit.

Please remember, I am not a medical professional, nor is any of this medical advice. I am just out here living A Kidney Life.