What Is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels. When blood pressure remains consistently elevated over time, it is called hypertension. Excessive fluid in your body increases pressure on vessel walls, resulting in higher readings. Narrow or clogged blood vessels similarly contribute to elevated blood pressure.
How Does High Blood Pressure Hurt My Kidneys?
Hypertension exerts extra pressure on all organs, particularly the kidneys, affecting the delicate filters called glomeruli. Over time, these filters may stop functioning properly, leading to chronic kidney disease.
How Do I Know If I Have High Blood Pressure?
Most individuals with hypertension experience no symptoms. Blood pressure measurement with a cuff provides two numbers: systolic pressure (top number — pressure during heartbeats) and diastolic pressure (bottom number — pressure between beats). Generally, a systolic reading of 120–130 is considered normal.
How Do I Know If I Have Kidney Damage?
Like hypertension, kidney damage often goes unnoticed and can only be detected through medical testing. Blood tests reveal whether kidneys efficiently remove wastes, and doctors can order additional tests to assess kidney function.
How Can I Protect My Kidneys From High Blood Pressure?
Individuals with kidney disease should maintain blood pressure below 130/80 through lifestyle modifications and medications as needed. Key strategies include:
- Maintaining healthy body weight with fruits, vegetables, grains, and low-fat dairy
- Limiting daily sodium intake to 2,000 milligrams or lower
- Getting at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week
- Limiting alcohol and caffeine consumption
If lifestyle changes alone prove insufficient, nephrologists should prescribe appropriate medications to prevent organ damage.