During the pandemic, that health risk has increased for Americans

COVID-19 has affected all of us, from those who contracted the disease to others who managed to avoid it but witnessed it nonetheless. In fact, according to scientists, the rate of a specific health problem in the US has increased significantly since the pandemic began.

A new study published in the journal Circulation found that Americans’ blood pressure had risen during the pandemic compared to data collected in the previous three years.

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The researchers examined data from over 460,000 people from across the country, with a mean age of 45.7 years, with the majority (53%) being women. The study found that blood pressure rose significantly in April and December 2020, especially in women.

While the changes in blood pressure were minimal, researchers are concerned that a small change can have a big impact on our circulatory system. Prevention spoke to Luke Laffin, MD, the study’s lead researcher, who explained why it was important to keep track of one’s blood pressure. “Even small changes in the average blood pressure in the United States population can lead to significant increases in heart attacks, heart failure and more,” he said.

High blood pressure has been linked to a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including strokes and heart attacks. To avoid these, it is important to take care of your health by leading an active lifestyle, keeping an eye on food intake, and knowing your blood pressure so that you can keep track of its fluctuations.

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Researchers suspect these changes were due to the stressors of the pandemic, especially during the period when there were strict restrictions on the virus, which resulted in people dropping out of exercise classes, gyms, and eating different types of food. Then there is the emotional toll of the pandemic with feelings like fear and insecurity affecting people’s blood pressure.