On average, asthma affects close to 26 million people, or 1 in every 13 people in the United States with nearly 21 million adults aged 18 years and older suffering from the respiratory condition. Doctors advise most asthma patients to follow steps such as religiously taking medication, implementing healthy lifestyle habits, and avoiding triggers to keep the condition under control and prevent asthma attacks.
Asthma patients are also advised to keep an eye on their blood pressure numbers as hypertension is closely tied to the presence of asthma. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is characterized by chest pain, severe headaches, nausea, dizziness, vomiting and several other symptoms.
Robert Segal, cardiologist and founder of New York City-based Manhattan Cardiology, explains that asthma patients have a greater risk of developing hypertension compared to people without the condition. However, high blood pressure often occurs without causing any physical symptoms, meaning some people with asthma may develop and have the condition without being aware of it.
Experts describe the connection between the two conditions as bidirectional, meaning having one condition can make the other worse and vice versa. According to UTHealth Houston cardiologist John Higgins, MD, high blood pressure can cause asthma attacks to occur more frequently and with more severity. Furthermore, the presence of asthma can result in bodily changes that increase the likelihood of developing high blood pressure.
Higgins notes that asthma can cause inflammation across the entire body and affect the heart and lungs. In fact, Higgins explains, around 50% to 70% of asthma patients also experience type-2 inflammation, which leaves their bodies under constant systemic inflammation.
This state of chronic inflammation raises the risk of heart disease, particularly if the patient’s asthma isn’t treated, increases the frequency of asthma attacks and causes blood pressure to surge, Segal says.
Conversely, certain treatments used to alleviate high blood pressure can worsen asthma, especially a family of drugs called beta blockers. These medications treat hypertension by preventing the action of epinephrine and causing the heart rate to slow down Unfortunately, they can also exacerbate asthma symptoms by constricting the airways and making breathing a lot more difficult.
Segal notes that blood pressure drugs such as calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors are safe for asthma patients and can even boost lung function.
Certain asthma medications may also have a negative impact on blood pressure, Higgins explains. For instance, beta-2 agonists used to treat respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can cause vaso-constriction and increase blood and heart rate. It is critical that asthma and high blood pressure patients prevent such interactions through regular doctor visits and a concise treatment plan.
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