What Can Cause Temporary High Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure Checks During Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, you should have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis, even if it is not high.

Watching your blood pressure while you are pregnant reduces your risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension. This can lead to a serious condition called;pre-eclampsia where there is a problem with the placenta .

Secondary High Blood Pressure

Some cases of high blood pressure are the result of underlying factors or cause and this is known as secondary high blood pressure.;

Underlying factors include:

• kidney conditions, such as a kidney infection, or kidney disease
• narrowing of the arteries
• hormonal conditions, such as Cushing’s syndrome;
• conditions that affect the bodys tissue, such as lupus;
• medication, such as the oral contraceptive pill, or the type of painkillers that are known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;, such as;ibuprofen
• recreational drugs, such as cocaine, amphetamines and crystal meth

Occasionally, a rise in blood pressure can result from taking herbal remedies, such as herbal supplements.

Favorite Online Support Networks

This online support group from the American Heart Association allows you to connect with others going through an array of heart issues, including hypertension. Ask questions, share your story, and get peer support from others going through similar experiences to take control of their heart health.

Read Also: Does Claritin D Raise Blood Pressure

What Do The Diastolic And Systolic Numbers Mean

How is blood pressure measured?

Blood pressure is measured with a blood pressure cuff and recorded as two numbers, for example, 120/80 mm Hg . Blood pressure measurements are usually taken at the upper arm over the brachial artery.

• The top, the larger number is called the systolic pressure. This measures the pressure generated when the heart contracts . It reflects the pressure of the blood against arterial walls.
• At the bottom, the smaller number is called the diastolic pressure. This reflects the pressure in the arteries while the heart is filling and resting between heartbeats.

High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Women who do not have high blood pressure before pregnancy may develop gestational hypertension or preeclampsia during pregnancy. Gestational hypertension is high blood pressure that develops in pregnancy. Gestational hypertension generally develops after week 20 of pregnancy. If not properly managed, it may develop into preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is elevated blood pressure and the leakage of protein into the urine by the kidneys. Preeclampsia can be dangerous to both mother and baby. High blood pressure during pregnancy may lead to decreased blood flow to the placenta, placental abruption, premature delivery, or future cardiovascular disease. After the baby is born, high blood pressure during pregnancy usually returns to normal levels.

Also Check: What Is The Va Disability Rating For Hypertensive Heart Disease

Anxiety Causes Low Blood Pressure

What you may not know is that some forms of anxiety can cause low blood pressure as well. During periods of anxiety attacks, a person may start to hyperventilate. Hyperventilation occurs when the body gets too much oxygen through either fast breathing or taking breaths that are too deep.

Hyperventilation is known to cause drops in blood pressure that can lead to feelings of lightheadedness and dizziness. So while high blood pressure is more common during anxiety, low blood pressure may occur as well.

Treating High Blood Pressure

Treatment for high blood pressure will depend on your blood pressure levels and your associated risk of developing a cardiovascular disease, such as a heart attack;or stroke.

There are seven main risk factors for developing a cardiovascular disease. These are:

• age
• smoking
• obesity
• having a high level of cholesterol in your blood
• having a family history of cardiovascular disease .

Read Also: What Size Blood Pressure Cuff Do I Need

What Kind Of Research Was Done

In this issue of Neurology, Jennings and colleagues evaluate the effects of hypertension on blood flow to parts of the brain involved in memory. They studied 37 people with hypertension and 59 people with normal blood pressure. Two types of memory were tested in these study participants: spatial and verbal memory. Spatial memory was measured by asking participants to remember the position of items seen on a computer screen. Verbal memory was measured by asking participants to remember words. While participants were performing these memory tests, the blood flow through the brain was measured using a brain scan called positron emission tomography . PET allows researchers to determine which parts of the brain are most active during a task, because active areas receive increased blood flow.

Per Cent People Experienced Some Injection Site Reaction

For this study, researchers looked at reports collected via a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention programme called v-safe that tracks side effects in vaccine recipients. A total of 3,643,918 people were enrolled in v-safe and completed at least one health survey within seven days following their first vaccine dose before February 21, and 1,920,872 v-safe participants reported receiving a second vaccine dose and completed at least one daily health survey within seven days following the second dose. Nearly 70 per cent of those said they had some kind of injection site reaction, like pain or swelling, and half had generalised reaction like fatigue or chills.

Read Also: Does Vinegar Lower Your Blood Pressure

Reduce Stress Through Meditation And Rest

Chronic stress can lead to chronic elevations in the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, says Dr. Desai. These hormones constrict the arteries and cause weight gain, which further increases blood pressure.

He recommends reducing stress by using breathing exercises, practicing meditation, completing physical exercise, practicing yoga, logging quality sleep, taking breaks throughout the day, spending time in nature, listening to music and eating a balanced diet.

Causes Of Sudden High Blood Pressure

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of out every three American adults suffers from diagnosed high blood pressure with only one half keeping their pressure under control. Sudden high blood pressure usually occurs to a small percentage of people with high blood pressure. This can include young adults, including a high number of African-American men, and those experiencing:

• Collagen vascular disorders
• Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure

Sudden high blood pressure can also be brought on by daily activities and practices.

• Medication use such as over-the-counter pain relievers, a combination of various medications, and abuse of cocaine and marijuana can spike blood pressure levels.
• Smoking can cause a sudden increase in blood pressure as the chemicals, including nicotine, damage the linings of our blood vessels.
• Diet habits are critical to maintaining normal blood pressure levels as the bad fat and sodium found in many foods increase the blood solute content. It also can build up and block the blood vessels, leading to major heart trouble such as a stroke.
• Stress is part of our everyday life and becoming anxious about your worries can increase risk for spikes in blood pressure twofold.
• Medical conditions like kidney disease, spinal injuries, adrenal gland tumors, thyroid issues, and scleroderma can raise blood pressure rapidly.

Don’t Miss: Do Onions Lower Blood Pressure

How To Prevent High Blood Pressure

A heart-healthy lifestyle can help prevent high blood pressure from developing. To live a healthy lifestyle:

• Choose heart-healthy foods that are lower in sodium and are rich in potassium. Fruits and vegetables are high in potassium. For more ways to limit your sodium, visit the DASH eating plan page or print our Tips to Reduce Salt and Sodium handout.
• Avoid or limit alcohol

• Vascular dementia

Watch this video to learn more about why high blood pressure is such a problem.

This video shows how high blood pressure damages the walls of your arteries over time and leads to life-threatening health problems.

High blood pressure in pregnancy can raise the risk of later heart and blood vessel problems for both the mother and her child.

When Should You Call A Doctor For High Blood Pressure

Many symptoms present gradually after years of poorly blood pressure control. Often, the first knowledge of hypertension occurs when a person complains of chest pain or has stroke-like symptoms. Should these occur, it is appropriate to call 911 immediately to activate emergency medical services and seek care.

You may be directed to seek medical care if blood pressure readings are elevated if done as part of a community health screening. Isolated elevated blood pressure readings do not necessarily make the diagnosis of hypertension. Blood pressure readings vary throughout the day, and your primary care provider may record a different reading than the one that was measured in a screening that sent you in for care.

There are non-specific symptoms associated with hypertension that may cause a person to seek care that includes;

• lightheadedness,

There are many other reasons to develop these symptoms other than high blood pressure.

Also Check: Does Spicy Food Raise Your Blood Pressure

A New Study Says That Moderna Xcovid

Written by Jahnavi Sarma | Published : April 8, 2021 6:07 PM IST

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, there have been reports of adverse effects, some minor and some serious. Many recipients have also been reported dead. Hence, many vaccines have come under the scanner and scientists are studying possible side-effects that may come up. Healthcare professionals are also taking measures to ensure that any adverse reaction, if any, are immediately taken care of. In India, after getting the shot, recipeints are required to wait for 30 minutes before leaving the vaccination centre. The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has been in the news for some time now after reports of blood clots was reported in recipients. Now, a new study has pointed out that those taking the Moderna vaccine have reported more side effects than people who get the Pfizer/BioNTech jabs. The journal JAMA published this study.

Treatment And Medication Options For High Blood Pressure

Most people who have high blood pressure will likely need lifelong treatment to help ward off or delay serious health problems brought on by the condition.

Options to treat high blood pressure may include eating a healthy diet with less salt, taking medication, and incorporating additional lifestyle changes. These include exercise, limiting alcohol intake, smoking cessation, and managing stress.

Don’t Miss: Does Spicy Food Cause High Blood Pressure

How High Is Too High For Blood Pressure

Although the term labile hypertension means blood pressure that fluctuates more than usual, the term actually has no official definition. Theres no line that must be crossed no minimum blood pressure reading or number of spikes necessary to make the diagnosis.

The term simply indicates a situation where blood pressure is rising beyond whats considered normal and acceptable for an individual.

Most times, these people have reasonable blood pressure control, says Dr. Lioudis. Yet they have periods when they may experience facial flushing, tension headaches, sweating or feelings of unease. When they check their blood pressure, its high.

Lowering Systolic Blood Pressure More May Cut Health Risks

One major study found;that lowering systolic blood pressure to well below the commonly recommended level also greatly lowered the number of cardiovascular events and deaths among people at least 50 years old with high blood pressure.

When study participants achieved a systolic blood pressure target of 120 mmHg compared to the higher target of 140 mmHg recommended for most people, and 150 for people over 60 issues such as heart attack, stroke and heart failure were reduced by almost one-third, and the risk of death by almost one-fourth.

“That’s important information, because more lives may be saved and more deaths may be prevented if we maintain lower blood pressure in certain patients,” says Lynne Braun, NP, PhD, a nurse practitioner at the Rush Heart Center for Women.

Braun cautions, however, that your personal blood pressure target depends on a variety of things, including your current blood pressure, lifestyle, risk factors, other medications you are taking and your age. “Every person has to be evaluated as an individual,” she says. “Realistically, we can’t get everybody down to 120, and trying to do so may create unintended problems.”

It can be dangerous, for instance, to keep an older person on medications that have unsafe side effects, such as diuretics , which can cause dehydration and dizziness in older adults.

And there can be other issues involved with taking multiple medications, such as cost and compliance.

Read Also: What Is The Va Disability Rating For Hypertensive Heart Disease

Can Illness Also Lower Blood Pressure

As well as contributing to a rise in high blood pressure, illness and severe infections can also result in a quick drop in your blood pressure, known as hypotension. During any serious illness or infection, your doctor will want to monitor your blood pressure regularly. This will help monitor the severity of your illness or infection, as well as the current status of your hypertension 1.

Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure

While periods of high anxiety or panic attacks can cause temporary rises in blood pressure and heart rate, there is not enough evidence to confirm that anxiety disorders cause long term hypertension though it has been suggested in certain studies.

When you become anxious or stressed, your body responds with surges in certain hormones, which can raise your heart rate and blood pressure. In isolation, occasional spikes in blood pressure do not lead to hypertension. But, if stress-induced spikes in blood pressure happen often enough, like every day, this can cause blood vessel damage and put stress on the heart and kidneys. These harmful effects are similar to what happens in people with hypertension.;

Another way that anxiety can contribute to high blood pressure is that people often respond to stress with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Here are some behaviors that can cause hypertension:

• Smoking or vaping

• Eating too much and/or eating unhealthy food

• Not exercising or maintaining a healthy weight

• Not getting enough sleep

• Not taking their prescribed medications for high blood pressure

Rarely, medications to treat anxiety, such asserotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors can cause an increase in blood pressure. Your health care provider may have to adjust your medications if you develop high blood pressure as a side effect.

Also Check: Does Claritin Affect Blood Pressure

Spotlight On Aging: High Blood Pressure

Changes due to aging may contribute to high blood pressure with no known cause . As people age, large arteries gradually stiffen and small arteries may become partially blocked. Some experts think that this stiffening combined with the narrowing of small arteries may partly explain why blood pressure increases as people age.

When blood pressure is checked, two values are recorded. The higher value reflects the highest pressure in the arteries, which is reached when the heart contracts . The lower value reflects the lowest pressure in the arteries, which is reached just before the heart begins to contract again . Blood pressure is written as systolic pressure/diastolic pressurefor example, 120/80 mm Hg . This reading is referred to as “120 over 80.”

How Can Hypertension Cause Memory Loss And Other Problems

Hypertension can cause damage to blood vessels by causing a build-up inside the blood vessels, making them narrow. This restricts the amount of blood that can flow through them. If the narrowed blood vessel becomes blocked such that no blood can get through, this can lead to a heart attack or a stroke. Even reduced blood flow to the brain can have damaging effects. The brain must have a certain amount of blood flow to work normally. About one quart of blood normally flows through the brain every minute. If the amount of blood flow is less than it should be, the brain cannot work efficiently. This can lead to memory loss and other symptoms.

You May Like: Does Spicy Food Cause High Blood Pressure

Treatment Of High Blood Pressure

• Diet and exercise

• Drugs to lower blood pressure

Primary hypertension cannot be cured, but it can be controlled to prevent complications. Everyone with elevated blood pressure or any stage of hypertension should change their lifestyle. The decision to prescribe drugs is based on the actual blood pressure level and whether people have atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or have a more than 10% risk of developing it in the next 10 years.

Drugs that are used in the treatment of high blood pressure are called antihypertensives. With the wide variety of antihypertensives available, high blood pressure can be controlled in almost anyone, but treatment has to be tailored to the individual. Treatment is most effective when the person and doctor communicate well and collaborate on the treatment program.

Different types of antihypertensives reduce blood pressure by different mechanisms, so many different treatment strategies are possible. For some people, doctors use a stepped approach to drug therapy: They start with one type of antihypertensive and add others as necessary. For other people, doctors find a sequential approach is preferable: They prescribe one antihypertensive, and if it is ineffective, they stop it and prescribe another type. For people with blood pressure at or above 140/90 mm Hg, usually two drugs are started at the same time. In choosing an antihypertensive, doctors consider such factors as

What Tests Diagnose High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is measured with a blood pressure cuff . This may be done using a stethoscope and a cuff and gauge or by an automatic machine. It is a routine part of the physical examination and one of the vital signs often recorded for a patient visit. Other vital signs include pulse rate, respiratory rate , temperature, and weight.

The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommend specific steps to measure blood pressure in a medical setting.

• The patient should relax in a chair for at least five minutes, with the back supported and feet on the floor
• The patient should not have had caffeine, tobacco products or participated in any exercise for at least 30 minutes before the blood pressure check
• The patient should not talk for the five minute rest period
• The blood pressure cuff should not be placed over clothing; instead it should be placed directly on the skin
• The arm being tested should be supported or be rested on a table or arm rest
• The cuff being used should be the appropriate size for the patient
• Blood pressure should be checked at least two times, separated by 1-2 minutes, and an average taken to estimate that personâs blood pressure
• For the first visit for a blood pressure check, the blood pressure reading should be measured in both arms and the higher of the two readings should be used to decide upon treatment

Other studies may be considered depending upon the individual patient’s needs

Recommended Reading: Hypertension Va Disability Rating