The causes of high blood pressure
Blood pressure is the total force which is exerted on the walls of the arteries when it is flowing through them. When the pressure is at a very high level, it can cause a lot of health problems.
There are a lot of countries in this world where the majority of people suffer from the problem of high blood pressure. In the United States of America, one out of every three adults suffers from high blood pressure. If not treated well, high blood pressure can be quite dangerous and can cause kidney disease, stroke, heart failure, and vision loss. There can be many causes of high blood pressure and let us now have a look at some of the causes of high blood pressure.
Causes of high blood pressure
The heart is responsible for pumping blood all around the body. The blood reaches the muscles as well as cells which creates a lot of pressure. A person who suffers from high blood pressure means there is a lot of force and pressure on the arteries. The causes of high blood pressure can be divided into two categories, such as:
- Essential high blood pressure
- Secondary high blood pressure
There are no specific causes of high blood pressure, but there are some factors which can lead to high blood pressure. Let’s have a look at some of the risks involving high blood pressure:
- Age
As a person ages and grows older and older, the risk of high blood pressure increases as the flexibility of blood vessels reduces.
- Family history
Those individuals that have a family history of high blood pressure have a huge chance of getting high blood pressure.
- Ethnic background
People belonging to the United States of America and Africa have a lot of risk of developing hypertension. Hypertension is not easily cured by medicines.
- Overweight and obesity
People who are obese and overweight have a higher chance of developing high blood pressure.
- Sex
On a very general note, high blood pressure is very common among adult men as compared to adult women. However, after the age of 55, hypertension is common among adult women.
- Physical inactivity
Taking an unbalanced diet without any kind of physical activity increases the risk of hypertension. Physical activity refers to any kind of exercise or being active.
- Smoking
Cigars and cigarettes consist of tobacco. The tobacco inside them causes the blood vessels to become narrow, which results in high blood pressure. Apart from this, smoking also reduces the flow of oxygen, which thereby forces the heart to pump faster and faster as it has to compensate. This causes an increase in blood pressure.
- Increase in Alcohol intake
Increased intake of alcohol daily is one of the main causes of high blood pressure. Not only high blood pressure but excessive alcohol is also responsible for causing heart failure, problems in a heartbeat, and stroke.
- Poor diet
Doctors believe and say that a diet which is high in salt, as well as fats, can result in hypertension. It also depends upon the type of fat, which causes high blood pressure. But one must take a limited amount of salt and fat in their diet. Saturated and transfat which are mostly found in canned and processed foods are very harmful to health and a good cause for developing high blood pressure.
- High cholesterol
Almost half of the people who are suffering from high blood pressure have high cholesterol in their body. A diet which is full of fats and unhealthy stuff can cause cholesterol levels to increase and build up in the arteries.
- Mental stress
It might seem non-serious, but mental stress has a great impact on blood pressure. This is because stress can increase the intake of alcohol which will thereby result in hypertension. Mental stress can cause blood pressure to be extremely high, especially when it is chronic.
- Diabetes
Those people who are suffering from diabetes have a great risk of developing hypertension. If a person is careful and uses the correct amount of insulin and has a consistent blood sugar level, they can be successful in reducing the risk of high blood pressure.
- Pregnancy
When a female is pregnant, she’s prone to developing high blood pressure. There is a greater risk in developing this disease as compared to those women who are not pregnant. When a woman is pregnant, she can experience the placental disorder called preeclampsia which is responsible for increasing the blood pressure to a very dangerous level.
- Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is basically a sleeping disorder which makes it difficult for a person to breath while sleeping, and this can lead to hypertension. This is also one of the causes of high blood pressure.
Can high blood pressure be treated?
The treatment of high blood pressure depends upon many factors. The main thing that one must do is visit a doctor in the first place. The doctor will determine the level of your blood pressure. If the blood pressure is slightly low and can be controlled, the doctor will recommend some changes in your lifestyle and diet.
However, if the blood pressure is high, the doctor might prescribe some treatment and medicines to control its level. If the blood pressure is severe and abnormally high, then it requires immediate treatment, or it can be fatal.
Conclusion
It is advisable to avoid the factors which lead to the problem of high blood pressure. In any case, high blood pressure must not be taken lightly, and one must take the necessary steps to stop and control this problem.
The main thing which one must keep in mind is to have a good diet. A good and healthy diet is the best thing that one can do to avoid not only high blood pressure but also to avoid all kinds of diseases which can sooner or later deteriorate their health.
