Stroke risk is elevated by a significant factor in connection with blood pressure.
A groundbreaking study by researchers at the University of Michigan has shed light on the significant impact of long-term high blood pressure (hypertension) on stroke risk. The research, published in several reputable medical journals, underscores the importance of sustained control of hypertension, especially for Black and Hispanic communities who are disproportionately affected by hypertension-related stroke.
The study found that maintaining blood pressure below 120 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) systolic over the lifespan can significantly reduce the risk of stroke. This includes thrombotic stroke, a type of stroke caused by a clot obstructing a blood vessel in the brain, by lowering the stress on blood vessels and preventing atherosclerosis—a major cause of stroke.
Lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP) by just 10 mm Hg has been shown to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, including stroke, by approximately 25%. Moreover, a 10 mm Hg reduction in SBP can reduce the risk of stroke by 35-40% and heart attack risk by 20-25%. Conversely, for every 20 mm Hg increase in SBP, stroke risk roughly doubles.
Effective management of hypertension involves the use of antihypertensive medications, such as thiazide diuretics and ACE inhibitors, and lifestyle interventions like reducing sodium intake, following a DASH diet, and engaging in regular physical activity. These measures can substantially lower blood pressure and reduce stroke risk.
The study highlights the increased risk of stroke for Black and Hispanic patients. Racial and socioeconomic disparities contribute to differences in hypertension prevalence, control rates, and stroke outcomes in these communities. Improved blood pressure management in these groups can help address these disparities and lower stroke incidence.
The findings are particularly relevant as high blood pressure and stroke are closely linked. An elevated mean SBP by 10 mm Hg increases the risk of overall stroke or ischemic stroke by 20%. The risk of intracerebral hemorrhage, another type of stroke, increases by 31% with an elevated mean SBP by 10 mm Hg.
Hispanic patients have a 281% higher risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage, a third type of stroke, compared to white patients. Black patients have a 20% higher risk of ischemic stroke and a 67% higher risk of intracerebral hemorrhage than white patients.
In conclusion, the study emphasises the need for early diagnosis and sustained control of high blood pressure over the lifespan to prevent stroke, ischemic stroke, and intracerebral hemorrhage, especially in Black and Hispanic patients. This underscores the importance of aggressive, sustained hypertension control combined with addressing social determinants of health to mitigate stroke risk in these communities.
- The study emphasizes the significance of long-term control of high blood pressure (hypertension) in reducing stroke risk, especially for at-risk communities like Black and Hispanic populations.
- Maintaining blood pressure below 120 mm Hg systolic over a lifetime can significantly decrease the risk of various types of stroke, including thrombotic, ischemic, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- The research underscores the importance of lifestyle interventions such as reduced sodium intake, adhering to the DASH diet, and regular exercise, in addition to medical therapies for effective hypertension management and stroke risk reduction.
- Science highlights that sustained hypertension control, particularly in underrepresented communities, can help address racial and socioeconomic disparities, leading to lower stroke incidence and improved health outcomes.
5.eesiousness in managing hypertension could lead to increased risks of stroke, with an elevated mean SBP by 10 mm Hg increasing the risk of overall or ischemic stroke by 20% and the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage by 31%.
- It is crucial to prioritize early diagnosis, ongoing management, and prevention strategies for high blood pressure in conjunction with addressing social determinants of health to minimize stroke risk in various communities, particularly Black and Hispanic populations, combating chronic diseases like stroke and supporting overall health and wellness.
