High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure: A Dangerous Combination

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are extremely common. In fact, roughly half of American adults have high blood pressure (hypertension) and about half have high cholesterol levels. 

Each of these medical issues poses serious health risks. When they occur together — which they often do — those risks significantly increase.

At Florida Heart, Vein, and Vascular Institute, our team helps patients manage high cholesterol and high blood pressure with custom treatment plans tailored to their health needs, risk factors, and lifestyle. 

Here, learn why the combination of these two common health problems is so dangerous.

Cholesterol basics

Cholesterol is a sticky, waxy substance produced by your liver and found in many foods. Your body needs some cholesterol to maintain healthy cells and perform other vital functions. 

Cholesterol consists of two types: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). You need both types to stay healthy, but too much LDL can cause serious health problems.

High cholesterol is actually excess LDL in your bloodstream. The excess cholesterol collects along blood vessel walls, interfering with circulation and increasing your risk of stroke, heart attack, dementia, and other serious medical issues. That’s why LDL is also referred to as “bad” cholesterol. 

Understanding high blood pressure

Your blood pressure is simply a measurement of the force exerted on the walls of your blood vessels as your blood moves through your arteries. 

Measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), blood pressure consists of two numbers: the first represents the pressure when your heart beats, while the second reflects the pressure between beats when your heart rests.

Generally, a normal blood pressure is considered to be a pressure no higher than 120/80 mmHg. Your blood pressure varies throughout the day, but when pressure stays above 120/80 mmHg on a sustained basis, it can increase your risk of organ damage and health problems like heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and vision loss.

A risky combination

High cholesterol and high blood pressure can cause problems on their own. But they also frequently occur together, creating a dangerous cycle that can have life-threatening consequences.

High blood pressure inside your arteries damages the artery walls, causing tiny tears or lesions. These lesions create rough spots that attract sticky cholesterol plaques.

As plaques collect, they make the artery narrower and stiffer, preventing normal circulation. Narrower arteries means there’s less room for blood, so your heart must pump harder to maintain normal circulation. The result is higher blood pressure.

The importance of monitoring

Together, high cholesterol and high blood pressure dramatically increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney damage, blood vessel disorders, dementia, blood clots, and other serious medical problems. 

But they have something else in common: They rarely, if ever, cause symptoms.

That means you can have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or both and not even realize it until a serious event happens. Regular cholesterol tests and blood pressure measurements identify problems early, so you can begin treatment to reduce serious health risks.

Managing your risks

Our team is skilled in helping patients find the combination of medical therapies and lifestyle changes to manage their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Through regular cholesterol testing and blood pressure measurements, we fine-tune your treatment plan to help you improve your health and reduce the risk of serious complications.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol respond best to early treatment. To learn how we can help, request an appointment through our online system or call us at Florida Heart, Vein, and Vascular Institute in Zephyrhills, Lakeland, Plant City, or Riverview, Florida, today.