Individuals with COPD are at increased risk for developing hypertension or high blood pressure. One study indicated that nearly 56 percent of people live with it and in fact, it is one of the most common comorbidities of COPD..
Blood pressure is a measure of how hard the blood is pushing against the walls of the arteries. High blood pressure can have negative effects on health and put you at risk for other heart diseases, such as heart attack.
It is not completely understood why so many patients with COPD also have hypertension, but it is known that COPD and hypertension can be caused by smoking. As COPD increases the amount of inflammation in the body, it can also increase the amount of inflammation in blood vessels and raise blood pressure.
Hypertension does not have any symptoms. The only way to know if you have it is to have your blood pressure measured at your doctor’s office. Blood pressure is measured using a blood pressure cuff. A normal blood pressure is 120/80 and blood pressure of 140/90 is considered hypertension.
If you haven’t already, you should stop smoking. Smoking cessation will not only reduce your risk of hypertension, but also slow the progression of your COPD. You should eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables and is low in fat. Limit your alcohol, salt and caffeine intake and stay physically active.
The goal of treatment is to maintain blood pressure below 140/90, but they may be lower if you have diabetes or kidney disease. There are a variety of medications that can be useful in treating hypertension that each work in different ways.
Hypertension damages your blood vessels and can increase your risk of stroke, kidney failure, heart disease and heart attack; maintaining good control of your hypertension can lower these risks.
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