This February is American Heart Month, and we’re putting the focus on high blood pressure as it relates to heart health. There’s nothing fake about this news: high blood pressure puts you at risk for all kinds of life-threatening issues such as strokes, kidney disease, loss of vision, heart attacks, heart failure, and more.
You have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, if it takes too much force for your blood to pump throughout your body. Here’s how prolonged high blood pressure puts stress on your cardiovascular system:
- Eventually, the constant stress of hypertension affects your heart. Your heart can enlarge and fail to pump blood efficiently through your body.
- High blood pressure damages your blood vessels, leaving them vulnerable to the accumulation of cholesterol. Blocked or partially blocked arteries put additional stress on the heart, preventing heart muscles from receiving blood.
As podiatrists, we’re particularly concerned with how high blood pressure affects the blood vessels that lead to your legs. Too much cholesterol build-up in the lower legs decreases blood flow to the feet – a serious condition called peripheral arterial disease. PAD causes pain and cramping in your legs.
4 ways to bring down your blood pressure at home
Controlling your blood pressure is easier than ever in 2023. Numerous smartphone, smartwatch, and online apps make tracking, analyzing, and even sharing your blood pressure readings easy. Watch your numbers get lower by:
- eating a balanced diet
- exercising regularly
- reducing stress
- taking blood pressure medications as prescribed.
Our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, Dr. Jim Swienconek, Dr. Rachel Robinson, and Dr. Courtney Yoder remind you that controlling your blood pressure helps you to avoid foot pain and disease. When you experience lower leg or foot pain, we can help you discover if it’s related to heart disease or something else. Call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.