Lowering blood pressure may help prevent dementia

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Lowering blood pressure may help prevent dementia High blood pressure seldom causes any symptoms. But over time, the excessive force and friction of blood pushing against the inner walls of the arteries can damage blood vessels throughout the body. And while the biggest threat may be to your heart, your brain can also suffer. Even slightly elevated blood pressure in middle age has been linked to a 30% higher risk of dementia two decades later. But taking blood pressure drugs may help people avoid that risk, according to a study in a recent issue of JAMA.

Get your copy of Controlling Your Blood Pressure An alarming one in three American adults has high blood pressure. Known medically as hypertension, many people don't even know they have it, because high blood pressure has no symptoms or warning signs. But when elevated blood pressure is accompanied by abnormal cholesterol and blood sugar levels, the damage to your arteries, kidneys, and heart accelerates exponentially. Fortunately, high blood pressure is easy to detect and treat. In the Special Health Report, Controlling Your Blood Pressure, find out how to keep blood pressure in a healthy range simply by making lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, increasing activity, and eating more healthfully.

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Controlling Your Blood Pressure Featured content: • Blood pressure basics • Types of high blood pressure • What puts you at risk for high blood pressure? • How high blood pressure harms your health • Diagnosing high blood pressure •  ... and more! Click here to read more »