Q I have high blood pressure. How is it related to brain health? Will controlling my blood pressure also prevent dementia?
A Midlife high blood pressure is an important risk factor that raises dementia risk by more than 60%. Keeping blood pressure in the normal range reduces brain blood vessel damage and directly helps prevent vascular dementia.
Detailed Answer
High blood pressure damages the brain's microvessels and causes white matter degeneration, raising the risk of both vascular dementia and Alzheimer's. Keeping blood pressure below 130/80 is considered one of the single most effective interventions for protecting the brain.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, high blood pressure is often seen as ascendant liver yang (肝陽上亢) or phlegm-heat (痰熱). Managing this while replenishing kidney essence stabilizes the blood flow to the brain, allowing blood pressure management and the maintenance of cognitive function to be pursued together.
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