Health Articles & Information

High Blood Pressure Causes

In this article, we look at the five most common high blood pressure causes ...

There are a lot of different high blood pressure causes out there.  If you are like me and suffer from high blood pressure it’s a good idea to educate yourself about them.  High blood pressure is associated with some serious and potentially fatal conditions like heart disease and stroke, so you can never be too careful about it. 

One of the most famous high blood pressure causes is a high sodium intake.  Putting too much salt on your food is one thing, but also eating a lot of frozen, microwavable or pre-made dishes are also common ways people get too much sodium in their diet.  It’s a good idea to check the labels on what you’re buying to get an idea of how much sodium you’re putting in your body.  Sometimes foods that don’t even taste very salty are nonetheless high in sodium, as salt isn’t the only chemical that introduces the element into your body. 

Beyond sodium, an overall poor diet is a well-documented high blood pressure cause.  Too much cholesterol and saturated fats, for example, can cause your arteries to become clogged, forcing you heart to work extra hard to get the blood through, which in turn raises your blood pressure.  Additionally, An inactive lifestyle will also generally cause your heart to work extra hard and lead to higher blood pressure.

Another well-known high blood pressure cause is stress.  A lot of focus is spent on the other high blood pressure causes and many people often overlook the mental and emotional aspects to it.  The body is all tied together; mental agitation and anxiety have a direct effect on your heart and circulation.  Taking some steps to lower anxiety, like getting better sleep, reducing caffeine, and again getting more exercise, will therefore also help lower your blood pressure.

Finally, an increasingly more understood high blood pressure cause is genetics.  Genetics alone won’t cause high blood pressure, but it is behind all the other causes to some extent.  In a nut shell, your genetic make up will determine how sensitive you are to the above mentioned high blood pressure causes.  With the right genes you can have a high fat and sodium diet, never exercise, drink loads of coffee and stress constantly yet still have a reasonably low blood pressure.  With the wrong genes even a little too much salt may be enough to kick your blood pressure into a dangerous range.

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This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.

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