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Table of Contents
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Lifestyle Changes
Hypertension(high blood pressure) is a modifiable risk factor for stroke. Approximately 30% of all U.S. adults have hypertension; however, less than half manage it with an appropriate medication regimen.
This article discusses the relationship between blood pressure level and stroke risk, how to tell if you have stroke-level blood pressure, and available treatment options.
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Connection Between Stroke and High Blood Pressure
People diagnosed withhigh blood pressureare at an increased risk of having a stroke.
Over time, high blood pressure can damage the body’s blood vessels. This damage can weaken the vessels, which can lead to them being blocked or bursting, disrupting blood flow to the brain and resulting in a stroke.
Types of Stroke
Healthcare providers classify strokes into these two main types:
Other types of stroke include:
Risks of Living With Stroke-Level Blood Pressure
Over time, high blood pressure puts too much pressure on the blood vessels, leading to weakness or damage. The damage can cause the vessels to become blocked or burst and cause a stroke.
It is possible to experience a sudden occurrence of high blood pressure, known as ahypertensive emergency, which can lead to a stroke. In most cases, a hypertensive emergency occurs in people previously diagnosed with high blood pressure; it is considered a rare occurrence in a person who is not diagnosed with high blood pressure.
In a hypertensive emergency, blood pressure rises quickly and can cause excessive stress on blood vessels. This stress can trigger the body to activate the clotting cascade, which can create blockages in the blood vessels. Blocked blood vessels disrupt blood flow to the brain, causing a stroke.
Symptoms of a stroke as a result of a hypertensive emergency might include:
How to Tell If You Have High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because many people can have it with no apparent symptoms. Check in with a healthcare provider regularly to monitor your blood pressure and identify any early warning signs.
People who are unaware they have high blood pressure or have challenges managing their treatment plan can experience symptoms. If you have any of the following symptoms, talk with a healthcare provider immediately:
Untreated high blood pressure can cause damage to multiple organs. The long-term impact of untreated high blood pressure is often a stroke. In addition to stroke, high blood pressure can contribute to kidney damage, eye damage, lung damage, and heart damage.
Treatment to Manage Blood Pressure With Stroke Risk
There is no cure for high blood pressure, but various treatment options can reduce risk or help you maintain a healthy blood pressure.Healthcare providers recommend keeping your blood pressure at or below 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
Some people who adhere to the recommended lifestyle choices may still experience high blood pressure.In those cases, a healthcare provider might recommend medications to help keep blood pressure in a healthy range, such as the following:
Adapting to Lifestyle Changes With Stroke Risk
High blood pressure is the most common condition associated with elevated stroke risk.There are several recommended lifestyle changes to help reduce stroke risk, including the following:
Prevention
You cannot cure high blood pressure, but you can control it. Keeping blood pressure in a healthy range—less than 130/80 mmHg—significantly reduces stroke risk. Some things you can do to keep blood pressure healthy and reduce your stroke risk include lifestyle modifications discussed above.
Additionally, to prevent high blood pressure and stroke, it is essential to:
Summary
Strokes occur when one or more blood vessels in the brain are blocked or burst, often due to high blood pressure, which frequently goes unnoticed. To reduce your risk of high blood pressure and stroke, see a healthcare provider regularly.
You can manage high blood pressure with healthy lifestyle changes, such as a heart-healthy diet, regular physical activity, and avoiding tobacco products. In cases where lifestyle modifications are not enough, medication can help.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About stroke.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Stroke facts.Gorelick PB, Whelton PK, Sorond F, Carey RM.Blood pressure management in stroke.Hypertension. 2020;76(6):1688-1695.American Stroke Association.High blood pressure and stroke infographic.American Heart Association.High blood pressure and stroke.American Stroke Association.Types of stroke and treatment.National Library of Medicine.Hypertensive emergency.American Heart Association.Changes you can make to manage high blood pressure.World Health Organization.Hypertension.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk factors for stroke.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About stroke.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Stroke facts.Gorelick PB, Whelton PK, Sorond F, Carey RM.Blood pressure management in stroke.Hypertension. 2020;76(6):1688-1695.American Stroke Association.High blood pressure and stroke infographic.American Heart Association.High blood pressure and stroke.American Stroke Association.Types of stroke and treatment.National Library of Medicine.Hypertensive emergency.American Heart Association.Changes you can make to manage high blood pressure.World Health Organization.Hypertension.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk factors for stroke.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About stroke.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Stroke facts.Gorelick PB, Whelton PK, Sorond F, Carey RM.Blood pressure management in stroke.Hypertension. 2020;76(6):1688-1695.American Stroke Association.High blood pressure and stroke infographic.American Heart Association.High blood pressure and stroke.American Stroke Association.Types of stroke and treatment.National Library of Medicine.Hypertensive emergency.American Heart Association.Changes you can make to manage high blood pressure.World Health Organization.Hypertension.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk factors for stroke.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About stroke.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Stroke facts.
Gorelick PB, Whelton PK, Sorond F, Carey RM.Blood pressure management in stroke.Hypertension. 2020;76(6):1688-1695.
American Stroke Association.High blood pressure and stroke infographic.
American Heart Association.High blood pressure and stroke.
American Stroke Association.Types of stroke and treatment.
National Library of Medicine.Hypertensive emergency.
American Heart Association.Changes you can make to manage high blood pressure.
World Health Organization.Hypertension.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk factors for stroke.
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