While it is still a matter of much debate, there is evidence that suggests asthma may be a precursor to high blood pressure. If you are concerned about your blood pressure and have asthma, talk to your doctor about whether or not you should be screened for hypertension.
Asthma is a chronic lung inflammation in the bronchial tubes which causes narrowing, swelling and blocking of airways thereby leading to difficulty in breathing. High blood pressure or hypertension is a problem of increased tension in the arteries during blood pumping through the heart. Nowadays many people are suffering from both asthma and high blood pressure.
Does Asthma cause High Blood Pressure
There is some evidence that asthma can cause high blood pressure (HP).
The link between asthma and HP is not fully understood, but it may be due to the fact that asthma can lead to inflammation in the airways which in turn can increase blood flow and pressure.
There is also some evidence that people with asthma are more likely to have other medical conditions, such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure, which may also contribute to their HP.
If you have asthma and your BP is high, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your symptoms and how they might be related to your asthma.
How Does Asthma cause High Blood Pressure
The blood for a normal person moves from the lung to the left ventricle through the left atrium. From the left ventricle, blood is pumped to all the peripheral parts of the body through the arteries. High blood pressure means the pressure of the blood in the arteries is more than the normal. For an asthmatic patient, the respiratory passage is constricted due to which he faces difficulty in breathing and needs expansion of respiratory airway. So, he consumes medicine that targets the beta receptors lining the respiratory passage to expand the respiratory airway. These medicines sometimes expand the blood vessels too and thus cause high blood pressure. Metered Dose inhalers (MDI) are a part of asthma medication consumed by most of the asthma patients which simulates the beta receptors.
What to do if You Suspect Asthma Causes High Blood Pressure
If you have high blood pressure and asthma, it may be difficult to determine whether the two conditions are related. However, there are some things you can do to help determine if the two are linked.
First, your doctor may want to perform a blood pressure test to see if the elevated blood pressure is due to asthma or another condition. Second, your doctor may want to check for signs and symptoms of asthma in you. This includes checking for wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. If you have any of these signs and symptoms, your doctor may decide that asthma is a likely cause of your high blood pressure. Finally, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, such as restricting salt intake and getting regular exercise, to help reduce your blood pressure.
Also, as mentioned above your doctor may prescribe medicines with diuretics and beta-blockers to reduce high blood pressure. The beta-blockers can block the beta-receptors activation and avoid the blood vessels from widening and thus reduce hypertension by dilating the blood vessels.
High blood pressure (HBP) is a common problem, and it can be caused by a number of factors. However, one study has found that people who have asthma are 3 times more likely to have HBP than those without asthma. The study suggests that the inflammation caused by asthma may increase your risk for developing HBP. If you have asthma and you are concerned about your high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about whether a ketogenic diet might be an effective way to manage your condition.