Question: My cholesterol is high and so is my blood pressure. I take medicine to control both, but am wondering: Could both be caused by the same problem?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Heart and stroke risks are tied to multiple variables. Because you have both high cholesterol and high blood pressure, you do face increased cardiovascular risks, but these issues may not have a similar cause.
High blood pressure is often related a faulty signal released from our heart, brain, blood vessels, or kidneys as a response to a perceived lack of circulation. Sometimes this can result from excessive salt or hormone use, but not always. Hypertension may be the body's way of warning you of an impending disaster, such as a stroke, aneurism, heart attack, or hormonal disorder.
High cholesterol can be tied to diet, or inactivity, but eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly may not bring your levels under control on their own.
In any case, you should work with your doctor to figure out the best way to address both problems to reduce your cardiovascular risks.
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