Keep the pressure steady -- blood pressure that is
Almost everyone deals with negative stress -- there's pressure in relationships with co-workers, friends and family, and often, related to finances. When you add the physical stress caused by smoking, excess drinking, diabetes, obesity, sleep apnea or certain medications to the mix, there's a good chance that over time your systolic (the top number) blood pressure may surge and then fall, only to rise again.
That's called systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV), and over a decade, having that top number fluctuate is a signal that you're at elevated risk for cardiovascular and kidney disease -- and increased risk of death.
A study in the European Heart Journal followed more than 36,000 folks and found that if your systolic blood pressure repeatedly fluctuated by more than 3 points over the past five to 10 years, your risks for those health challenges increase by a 23% to 33%, compared to folks with the least SBPV.
To help steady your systolic blood pressure, it is important to manage both chronic and acute stress, using meditation, physical exercise, smart nutrition, and interacting with your posse. Maintaining a consistently healthy weight is also helpful. And ask your doctor if any of your medications, such as cold and allergy meds or antihypertensives, could cause SBPV. And get checked to see if cardiovascular disease is making your arteries stiff. For more help protecting yourself from the damage that SBPV can do, check out the updated version of "YOU: The Owner's Manual" and sign up for the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.longevityplaybook.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@longevityplaybook.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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