Before moving ahead, it is important to first be familiar with what blood pressure actually is. In the simplest terms, blood pressure is the pressure generated when blood flows in vessels. This pressure is due to the force of the heart and acts against the vessel walls.

There are multiple factors which affect blood pressure such as blood volume and how elastic the vessel walls are. There are several other things that also affect blood pressure. Some of them will be discussed in this article while some are too complex to be described here.

The normal values of blood pressure usually range from 90/60 mmHg up to 120/80 mmHg. If it reaches 130/80 or beyond, it is considered as high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association [1]. To find more about the different stages of high blood pressure, read this article.

The two numbers stand for the systolic and diastolic pressures. The systolic one is the higher number which occurs when the heart beats, and the diastolic is the lower number when the heart relaxes in between pulses. The “mmHg” stands for mm of mercury, a unit of pressure measurement.

The effects of aging on blood pressure

Aging is a normal process of the body that every person experiences. It is the process of growing older and brings upon many changes. Some of these are visible and can be felt, while other changes are less visible and can only be observed on a deeper microscopic level. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population above 60 will nearly double from 12% to 22% [2]. As we move towards a more aging population, it is important to know the effects aging has on blood pressure.

Does aging lead to increased blood pressure?

High blood pressure can have a variety of risk factors. A person can be at an increased risk if they are overweight, smoke or use other tobacco, eat an unhealthy diet, or have a sedentary lifestyle. Some factors, such as genetics and race, are inborn and cannot be modified.

Even if one does not have high blood pressure by age 55 to 65, their lifetime risk for developing it later is up to 90 percent [3]. This is supported by the Framingham Heart Study which followed patients for 30 years, and their systolic blood pressure showed a continuous increase between the ages of 30 and 84 years or over [4].

The increasing blood pressure in the elderly is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, which means increased chances of strokes and heart attacks. 

Can aging cause low blood pressure?

However, high blood pressure isn’t the only thing a person needs to worry about as they grow older. Orthostatic hypotension, or postural hypotension, is also commonly seen in older people [5].

Hypotension simply means low blood pressure, whereas postural hypotension is a situation where there is a sudden decrease in blood pressure when getting up from a sitting position. This may lead to the person fainting and is associated with a higher risk of fractures from falls. 

Postural hypotension is also associated with a higher risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, and death. [5] Therefore it is essential that the condition is identified early to prevent falls and injuries.

How can you monitor blood pressure?

An important step to ensure problems with blood pressure are caught early is through regular monitoring and checkups.

The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends [6] that adults from 18 to 39 years who have a normal blood pressure and no other risk factors should be rechecked every 3 to 5 years. 

Annual screening is recommended for adults over the age of 40 and for those who are at increased risk for high blood pressure. The risk factors for increased chances of hypertension include people who are obese or overweight, or are African American.

What are possible ways to prevent it?

Despite there being an increased risk for high blood pressure with age, there are steps that you can take in order to lessen its chances and to prevent it from worsening. 

Unhealthy habits such as using tobacco or drinking alcohol may lead to a higher likelihood of developing hypertension. Therefore. quitting these or at least reducing them is important to lower one’s chances of developing high blood pressure.

Since obesity is also a risk factor, losing weight and exercising more can also be helpful. Having a healthy balanced diet can also do wonders for blood pressure as well as an individual’s overall health. Stress is also linked to high blood pressure, so managing stress should also be a priority.

Consult a doctor

If a person is getting older, high blood pressure isn’t the only thing that’s a concern. There are other diseases that are also associated with aging such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and arthritis.

Therefore, it is important for individuals who care about their health to have a trusted physician they can rely on. Go to HealthTap to get in touch with an experienced primary care doctor online, who can help you monitor your health on a consistent basis. HealthTap’s telemedicine services are especially convenient for senior citizens.