Kidney disease and high blood pressure
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What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in the arteries (blood vessels) as it is pumped around the body by the heart.
Blood pressure does not stay the same all the time. It changes to meet the demands of your body. It is usually at its highest when we exercise and lowest when we sleep. It can also rise due to anxiety, excitement, activity or nervousness.
Why is blood pressure important?
If blood pressure remains high, it can damage the vessels that supply blood to your internal organs.
High blood pressure is also a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
Blood pressure is closely related to kidney function. High blood pressure can cause kidney damage and kidney damage can cause high blood pressure.
High blood pressure damages the blood vessels to the kidney, making them thickened and narrowed. Uncontrolled blood pressure may lead to kidney failure. Damaged kidneys release increased amounts of renin (a hormone which controls blood pressure). Renin causes raised blood pressure.
If you have kidney failure, salt and fluid retention can also cause high blood pressure.
Blood pressure is usually measured by wrapping an inflatable pressure cuff around the upper arm.
Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers, for example 140/90 mmHg.
- The larger number indicates the pressure in the arteries as the heart squeezes out blood during each beat. This is called the systolic blood pressure.
- The lower number indicates the pressure as the heart relaxes before the next beat. This is called the diastolic blood pressure.
Although some people with high blood pressure can get headaches, dizziness, or nosebleeds, high blood pressure does not always give warning signs.
The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is to have it regularly checked by your healthcare team (including your doctor, pharmacist, nurse) or doing home blood pressure monitoring.
If you have chronic kidney disease, it is recommended to keep your blood pressure usually below 130/80 mmHg.
A single high reading is not enough to make a diagnosis of high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is confirmed with a series of high readings taken on several different days, at different times.
If blood pressure is left uncontrolled and remains high, it can damage the vessels that supply blood to your internal organs.
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
It is important to remember that high blood pressure can be successfully treated.
Many people with high blood pressure will need to take medication. Some blood pressure medications help to slow down the progression of your kidney disease, so your doctor may also have prescribed them for this reason. You may need three or four different blood pressure medications for control.
It is important that you take any blood pressure medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking your medication or changing the dose without talking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
You and your doctor will need to work together to keep your blood pressure under control and have regular check-ups.
Things to remember:
- The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is to have it regularly checked.
- Blood pressure can cause kidney damage and kidney damage can cause high blood pressure.
- There are many ways to reduce your risk of high blood pressure. Avoid salt, maintain a healthy body weight and exercise regularly.
- Remember to take the medications prescribed by your doctor.
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