Is Your Blood Pressure DESTROYING Your Brain?

You don’t need me to tell you that high blood pressure is bad for you.

After all, it’s one of the biggest risk factors for heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems.

Yet somehow nearly half of all US adults still have hypertension!

If concern for your heart health isn’t enough to get your blood pressure under control, this latest study might do the trick.

It turns out that — if you have high blood pressure — heart disease is the least of your problems…

You might be tired of your doctor — or your spouse, for that matter — hounding you about your blood pressure.

But trust me… they’re right.

This is one health parameter you want to get under control.

Because, in addition to the major heart issues that high blood pressure can cause, you can add major brain issues to the list as well.

Researchers observed over 1,000 men for up to 24 years. They wanted to see if high blood pressure at night (referred to as “dipping”) was tied to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers found that men who experienced “reverse dipping”—which means their blood pressure was higher at night instead of lower — had a significantly higher risk of dementia.

In fact, men with reverse dipping had 1.64 times higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia.

See, your blood pressure is supposed to be lower at night.

When it’s not, abnormal blood pressure patterns compromise the clearance of waste produces from your brain that’s supposed to happen while you sleep. It’s like trashmen that come by every night to clear out the gunk.

If the waste-removal doesn’t happen, toxic proteins can build up in your brain and contribute to diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Another reason why blood pressure is important for your brain health is because getting plenty of oxygen to your brain is critical for it to function.

In fact, low blood flow to the brain is the number one risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers plan to investigate whether taking blood pressure lowering drugs at night could lower the risk, but I have a better idea.

Instead of loading up on drugs that are loaded with side effects, work on reducing your blood pressure the old-fashioned way.

It starts with good diet and exercise, getting your weight under control, and cutting back on alcohol.

But in addition, eating foods rich in flavanols (like berries and dark chocolate) can do wonders for your blood pressure.

It’s simple, really: Get your lifestyle under control, and your blood pressure will follow.

Dr. Richard Gerhauser

P.S. Struggling with getting your blood pressure under control? Click here to learn about the “summer snack” that can help lower you blood pressure in just two hours.