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People with high blood pressure or hypertension are twice as likely to develop diabetes. If left untreated, hypertension and diabetes can even lead to heart disease and stroke.
Read on to learn more about the relationship between hypertension, diabetes, and their effects on heart health.
Getting to know hypertension and diabetes
According to WHO, hypertension is a condition in which blood vessels constantly increase pressure. The higher the pressure, the harder the heart has to pump.
There are some simple tests that can be used to find out if you have hypertension or not. One of them is by using a blood pressure measuring device called a tensimeter.
Meanwhile, diabetes is a health condition where the body fails to control blood sugar, or blood glucose levels. To detect it, you can use a blood glucose test kit that can be used independently at home.
Relationship between hypertension and diabetes
Reporting from Medical News Today, research reveals that these two diseases may be related to each other. In terms of risk factors, causes, contribution to worsening symptoms, and treatment.
In terms of causes, for example, a 2012 study noted that diabetes and hypertension are both caused by obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance.
Not only that, these two health disorders also have similar risk factors such as smoking, and low vitamin D levels.
Can diabetes cause hypertension and vice versa?
The answer is yes. In people with diabetes, instead of processing glucose into cells to provide energy, the body will instead put it into the bloodstream.
As a result, when blood with high glucose levels flows throughout the body, it can cause damage, including to the blood vessels and kidneys.
Both organs play a role in maintaining blood pressure and if they are damaged, this can trigger high blood pressure.
On the other hand, a 2015 analysis also concluded that from the data of 4 million adults studied, people with hypertension were shown to have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. So it can be said that these two diseases can be a contributing factor for each other.
Effect of diabetes and hypertension on heart health
Heart disease is common in people with diabetes. Data shows 65 percent of people with diabetes die from some type of heart disease or stroke.
This can happen because over time high blood sugar levels due to diabetes can damage blood vessels in the heart, and make it more likely to develop fatty deposits.
High blood pressure can also trigger heart disease. This is because the increased strength of the blood is prone to damaging the walls of the arteries and making them hard. This condition will hinder the blood supply to the heart muscle and develop a heart attack.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who have high blood pressure and diabetes can greatly increase their risk of heart disease. Yes, the combined impact of diabetes and hypertension can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Treatment of heart disease in diabetics
Treatment alternatives for heart problems in diabetics will depend on the severity of the heart disease. This may include options such as:
Aspirin therapy, to reduce the risk of blood clots causing heart attacks and strokes.
Diet
Exercise not only to lose weight, but to improve blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, cholesterol levels and to reduce abdominal fat, a risk factor for heart disease.
Certain medications, and
Surgery.
The best way to prevent heart disease is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Keep blood sugar as normal as possible, control blood pressure with medication if necessary. And last but not least, quit smoking and learn to reduce daily stress.
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