Blood pressure is the measurement of force of fluid, or blood, against the walls of your blood vessels. Another word for high blood pressure is hypertension. Hypertension is a result of too much fluid flowing through your blood vessels or having narrow blood vessels which restrict the flow of blood. Blood pressure plays an important role in the health of your kidneys. If you have hypertension it can damage the blood vessels in your kidneys. Damaged blood vessels can keep your kidneys from functioning properly. If you or a loved one suffers from high blood pressure it is important to visit your doctor regularly to help get it under control and to prevent kidney damage. You can also donate your car to help the National Kidney Foundation to spread awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease.
What happens to my kidneys when I have high blood pressure?
Having high blood pressure over a long period of time can damage blood vessels throughout your body. If you have damaged blood vessels in your kidneys it will prevent good kidney function, and may keep your kidneys from removing extra fluid and waste from your body. If the extra fluid is not removed than it can lead to even higher blood pressure, causing a very harmful cycle to happen and will severely compromise your health. High blood pressure can cause kidney failure.
How do I know if I have high blood pressure?
Often times there are no symptoms present when someone has high blood pressure. The best way to be tested for high blood pressure is to have a health care professional measure it with a professional grade blood pressure cuff. Blood pressure is measured by two numbers. The top number that is given represents the systolic pressure, and is a measurement of when your heart is beating. The bottom number is called the diastolic pressure and it shows the amount of fluid pressure when your heart is resting between beats. A normal blood pressure reading is 120/80. If you have high blood pressure you should make a plan with your doctor to lower it.
How do I know if I have kidney damage?
Just like high blood pressure there are often no symptoms related to kidney damage. To find out if you have kidney issues you must have medical tests done. There are a series of blood tests that can be used to determine how well your kidneys are functioning. If you know you have kidney damage it is very important to keep your blood pressure under control and to visit your doctor regularly.