What Are Causes Of High Blood Pressure

What Are The Main Causes Of High Blood Pressure

In most cases, doctors cant point to the exact cause of high blood pressure. However, several things are known to raise blood pressure, including:

• Age: The risk for high blood pressure rises as you age. Through early middle age, high blood pressure is more common in men. Women are more likely to develop it after menopause.
• Family history
• Being overweight or obese: The more you weigh, the more blood you need to bring nutrients to your tissues. As the volume of blood goes up, so does the pressure against artery walls.
• Not being physically active: Inactive people tend to have faster heart rates. That makes the force of blood against your arteries harder.
• Using tobacco: Tobacco use immediately raises your blood pressure on a temporary basis. In addition, the chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of your artery walls.
• Too much salt
• Too little vitamin D
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Stress: High levels of stress can lead to a temporary, but dramatic, rise in blood pressure.
• Certain chronic conditions: Including high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease, and sleep apnea.

Coarctation Of The Aorta

Now, coarctation of the aorta is actually a congenital heart defect, and it’s one of the leading causes of hypertension in children. When you have coarctation of the aorta, you have a narrowing in a part of the aorta, which is that huge artery, it’s the body’s largest artery, and it comes out of the heart, out of that left ventricle.

When you have this narrowing, you can get symptoms such as hypertension. Specifically, you will have hypertension in the upper body. You might have hypertension in the arms, or headaches from high pressure in the brain. You can also get nosebleeds if you have coarctation of the aorta. And if someone checks your pulse, you might have bounding, very strong pulses, all this in the upper extremities, and then your radial pulses. But in the lower body, you may have diminished or absent pulses.

You also may have claudication or cramping of the legs and relatively thin or decreased muscle in the lower body. So in coarctation of the aorta, you have hypertension, but mainly that hypertension is in the upper body.

How To Check Blood Pressure

1 From the middle of the thirties, one should check the blood pressure from time to time, with familial stress with cardiovascular diseases also earlier. It would be even better to regularly take advantage of the cardiovascular check-ups offered free of charge.

2 The health insurance companies currently pay them every two years, starting at the age of 35 The blood pressure measurement is an integral part. Also, pharmacies also offer blood pressure measurements.

3 In many cases, the result will be healthy. However, if too high blood pressure is measured, the next question is: Is there high blood pressure? The diagnosis is usually fast. Further investigations follow suspicion of secondary hypertension or sequelae.

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Do I Have High Blood Pressure

Anyone can have high blood pressure. Some medical conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, kidney disease, and thyroid problems, can cause high blood pressure. Some people have a greater chance of having it because of things they can’t change. These are:

• Age. The chance of having high blood pressure increases as you get older, especially isolated systolic hypertension.
• Gender. Before age 55, men have a greater chance of having high blood pressure. Women are more likely to have high blood pressure after menopause.
• Family history. High blood pressure tends to run in some families.
• Race. African Americans are at increased risk for high blood pressure.

High blood pressure often has no signs or symptoms, but routine checks of your blood pressure will help detect increasing levels. If your blood pressure reading is high at two or more check-ups, the doctor may also ask you to measure your blood pressure at home.

There are important considerations for older adults in deciding whether to start treatment for high blood pressure if it is above 130/80, including other health conditions and overall fitness. Your doctor may work with you to find a blood pressure target that is best for your well-being and may suggest exercise, changes in your diet, and medications.

Hypertension: What You Need To Know As You Age

You cant see high blood pressure, also called hypertension. And most ofthe time, you cant feel it. But if youre among the 78 million Americanswith hypertension or are one of the 70 million with prehypertension, its important to understandits effects on your healthand to take action today to bring your numbersdown to healthier levels.

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the inner walls of yourarteries. It has normal fluctuations throughout the dayfalling when yourerelaxed or asleep, rising naturally in the morning, and increasingtemporarily when youre under stress, excited or exercising. But when yourresting blood pressure level rises too high, it can scar, stiffen and/orweaken blood vessels. This effect can double your risk for aheart attack quadruple your odds for astroke raise your risk forheart failure, vision loss, kidney problems,dementiaand circulation problems such asperipheral artery disease weaken your bones and contribute toerectile dysfunctionin men.

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What Is A Normal Blood Pressure

Both the American Heart Association and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force have published guidelines for defining healthy and elevated blood pressure. You can follow either guidelines, depending on what you and your doctor agree is acceptable.

USPSTF Guidelines for Blood Pressure

Normal	Systolic: Less than 120 mm Hg Diastolic:Less than 80 mm Hg
Elevated	Diastolic: < Less than 80 mm Hg

AHA Guidelines for Blood Pressure

Normal	Systolic: Less than 120 mm Hg Diastolic: Less than 80 mm Hg
Elevated	Diastolic: Less than 80 mm Hg
High Blood Pressure Stage 1	Systolic: 130-139 mm Hg
High Blood Pressure Stage 2	Systolic: 140 mm Hg or higher Diastolic: 90 mm Hg or higher
Hypertensive Crisis	Systolic: Higher than 180 mm Hg Diastolic: Higher than 120 mm Hg

Good Sleep Can Prevent And Manage High Blood Pressure

Most people experience a dip in blood pressure during the deepest stage of sleep , which is the body’s normal and healthy reaction to sleep. Not having that nighttime dip is a risk factor for heart disease and may increase daytime blood pressure.

Typically people spend 90 minutes to two hours in slow wave sleep per night. A recent study published in Hypertension found that men who got less slow wave sleep each night were a higher risk for hypertension than men who got more deep sleep.

While sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, and age can both affect the amount of deep sleep you get, there are steps you can take to ensure a good night’s sleep. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and being more active during the day can help improve the quality of your sleep.

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How Do I Lower My Blood Pressure

Once youve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, the first thing your healthcare team will do is test you for different conditions that cause secondary hypertension. If they identify a problem, they will work with you to treat the underlying condition, he says.

In all instances of hypertension, however, there are some basic measures that can be taken that can help lower your blood pressure as well as promote overall heart health, Dr. Singh says. These include:

• Reducing salt, red meat, saturated fat, and alcohol intake
• Getting regular cardiovascular exercise, such as brisk walking or running 30 minutes per day
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Taking time to minimize stress daily
• Avoiding all tobacco products like cigarettes and vapes

If your blood pressure remains high despite making lifestyle modifications, there are several different medications available that can work on their own or in combination with others to treat hypertension, Dr. Singh says. Your healthcare team will work with you to determine which medication regimen is best for your personal situation.

The bottom line: Since high blood pressure is asymptomatic, make sure youre going to your regular doctors visits. The sooner you get a diagnosis, the sooner you can make healthy changes.

Home Remedies For Curing Hypertension Or High Blood Pressure

To cure high blood pressure, specific home remedies can help you to a great extent. Some of them are:

• A healthy diet is the first and foremost thing to achieve a reduction in high blood pressure. It may include fruits, whole grains, vegetables possibly green and leafy one, and lean proteins such as fish.
• Try to reach a healthy and ideal weight according to your Body Mass Index. Become active physically as much as possible.

Additionally, exercise also reduces stress and brings down blood pressure in a natural manner. It also strengthens the cardiovascular system of our body.

• Manage your stress level. Some other activities, such as practicing deep breathing, meditation, yoga, muscle relaxation, massage, and tai chi, etc. are highly essential and useful measures.
• A cleaner lifestyle is as much important as a healthy and balanced one is. Quit smoking and alcohol. At least try to include some efforts to quit. Tobacco and the other chemicals harm your bodys tissues severely, along with hardening the walls of blood vessels.
• alcohol raises blood pressure. So, if you are too dependent on alcohol and smoking, seek help for the reduction in drinking and smoking altogether.

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Causes Of Sudden High Blood Pressure

Spikes of high blood pressure are always a concern. A client of mine asked me about them because he was getting some himself. While he knew the cause of his, he wanted to know all of them. Therefore, what are causes of sudden high blood pressure?

Causes of sudden high blood pressure include the following:

• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Pregnancy Related High Blood Pressure
• Scleroderma
• Illegal drugs
• Smoking

This article will explain in detail each one of the causes. Knowing what causes sudden high blood pressure is a must know for anyone, especially for those struggling with blood pressure already .

Disclaimer: Some links in this article are affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

BP Tip: Lower BP naturally by changing how you breathe? A device approved by the FDA and The American Heart Association guides your breathing a few minutes a day which has been proven to lower BP. You can check it out in the manufacturers website by .

Youre Having More Than One Alcoholic Drink Per Day

For people who already drink, moderate alcohol consumption is often not a problem, and some research suggests it may even help prevent heart disease. However, heavier alcohol consumptionespecially frequent binge drinking episodescan lead to chronically elevated blood pressure, says Dr. Philips. Research has also tied binge drinking to an increased risk of developing atherosclerosisbuildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.

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What Is Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as the heart pumps blood. When a health care professional measures your blood pressure, they use a blood pressure cuff around your arm that gradually tightens. The results are given in two numbers. The first number, called systolic blood pressure, is the pressure caused by your heart contracting and pushing out blood. The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, is the pressure when your heart relaxes and fills with blood.

A blood pressure reading is given as the systolic blood pressure number over the diastolic blood pressure number. Blood pressure levels are classified based on those two numbers.

• Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is systolic blood pressure lower than 90 or diastolic blood pressure lower than 60. If you have low blood pressure, you may feel lightheaded, weak, dizzy, or even faint. It can be caused by not getting enough fluids, blood loss, some medical conditions, or medications, including those prescribed for high blood pressure.
• Normal blood pressure for most adults is defined as a systolic pressure of less than 120 and a diastolic pressure of less than 80.
• Elevated blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure between 120 and 129 with a diastolic pressure of less than 80.
• High blood pressure is defined as 130 or higher for the first number, or 80 or higher for the second number.

Too Much Alcohol Consumption

Do you frequently drink alcohol to excess? Research has found that alcohol stimulates the production of endothelin 1 and 2 from the vascular endothelium system. Additionally, the consumption increases the production of angiotensin II in the blood vessels. Medical practitioners will tell you that these two products are potential vasoconstrictors and can lead to increased blood volume, which translates into higher blood pressure.

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Why Is Hypertension An Important Issue In Low

The prevalence of hypertension varies across regions and country income groups. The WHO African Region has the highest prevalence of hypertension while the WHO Region of the Americas has the lowest prevalence of hypertension .

The number of adults with hypertension increased from 594 million in 1975 to 1.13 billion in 2015, with the increase seen largely in low- and middle-income countries. This increase is due mainly to a rise in hypertension risk factors in those populations.

Number 4 Salt Or Sodium

Doctors have been preaching about avoiding salt for a long time. This is because it was considered a contributing factor in high blood pressure. How is that?

Well, salt can cause the body to store water. When that happens, blood volume rises, and some people get higher blood pressure.

Salt comprises sodium and chloride. But in reality, it is sodium that can be harmful to your health.

The body needs a small amount of sodium to function, but most people in industrialized countries consume too much sodium.

One survey of worldwide dietary sodium intake found that only 10 to 15% of total dietary sodium comes from adding it to food cooked at home.

The other 75 to 80% of sodium ingested by people in North America and Europe comes from processed food. This should come as no surprise!

Highly processed meals are not only high in sodium, they are also full of high fructose corn syrup, chemical preservatives, starchy fillers, and other undesirable elements that all contribute to poor health.

So its tough to say that the sodium in these processed foods is the only thing that causes high blood pressure.

In fact, the link between sodium and high blood pressure is uncertain, because many of the scientific studies on the effects of salt on hypertension have been inconclusive.

A 2011 meta-analysis of seven studies involving over 6,000 people found that there is NO firm evidence that cutting salt intake reduces the risk for heart attacks, strokes or death.

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Signs Of High Blood Pressure

You may never know that you have hypertension unless its extreme. While it may be challenging to ascertain high blood pressure without a medical diagnosis, several symptoms show its severity. Lets explore some of them.

• Extreme headaches
• Presence of blood in the urine
• Irregular heartbeat
• Pains in the chest area
• Pounding in the chest
• Blood spots in the eyes

However, for a proper diagnosis, you must visit your doctor for tests.

What Medications Are Used To Treat High Blood Pressure

Four classes of high blood pressure medications are considered first line when starting treatment. Sometimes other medications are coupled with these first-line drugs to better control your high blood pressure. First-line, pressure-lowering medications are:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors block the production of the angiotensin II hormone, which the body naturally uses to control blood pressure. When angiotensin II is blocked, your blood vessels dont narrow. Examples: lisinopril , enalapril or captopril.
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers block this same hormone from binding with receptors in the blood vessels. ARBs work the same way as ACE inhibitors to keep blood vessels from narrowing. Examples: metoprolol , valsartan or losartan.
• Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of your heart and blood vessels, allowing these vessels to relax. Examples: amlodipine , nifedipine , diltiazem .
• Diuretics flush excess sodium from your body, reducing the amount of fluid in your blood. Diuretics are often used with other high blood pressure medicines, sometimes in one combined pill. Examples: indapamide, hydrochlorothiazide or chlorothiazide.

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Secondary Hypertension Treatment Options

If your doctor discovers an underlying issue causing your hypertension, treatment will focus on that other condition. For example, if a medication youve started taking is causing increased blood pressure, your doctor will try other medications that dont have this side effect.

Sometimes, hypertension is persistent despite treatment for the underlying cause. In this case, your doctor may work with you to develop lifestyle changes and prescribe medications to help reduce your blood pressure.

Treatment plans for hypertension often evolve. What worked at first may become less useful over time. Your doctor will continue to work with you to refine your treatment.

Set Weight Loss Goals

If your doctor has recommended you lose weight, talk with them about an optimal weight loss goal for you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a weight loss goal of one to two pounds a week. This can be achieved through a more nutritious diet and increased physical exercise.

Employing the help of a trainer or fitness app, and possibly even a dietician, are all methods to help you learn how to make the best choices for your body and your lifestyle.

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