Major Causes Of High Blood Pressure

Is the growing stress in your life causing high blood pressure? Or is the reason something else? 

Looking at the hectic lifestyle we all follow today, facing the problem of low or high blood pressure is common. But this does not mean you should leave it untreated. Ignoring such issues comes with more serious medical condition, like heart failure, kidney problems, and eye-related issues. 

So, hypertension patients must get the proper treatment on time. But for that, you first need to understand the causes and symptoms of high blood pressure mentioned in this piece. After that, you can follow a suitable weight loss diet plan if needed and implement the helpful tips stated below for a healthy life ahead. 

Table Of Contents

1. What Is Hypertension?

2. Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure?

3. What Are The Causes Of High Blood Pressure?

4. Treating Hypertension

5. The Final Say

6. FAQs

What Is Hypertension?

High blood pressure is a condition typically known as hypertension. In this, the patient’s arteries get affected, as the speed of the blood vessels pushing against the artery walls is constantly on the higher side, for which the heart has to work harder. 

Blood pressure is divided into four categories:

1. Normal blood pressure- Reads as 120/80 mm Hg or less

2. Elevated blood pressure- The numerator ranges from 120 to 129 mm Hg, and the denominator is less than 80 mm Hg.

3. Stage 1 hypertension- Here, the numerator ranges from 130 to 139 mm Hg, and the denominator ranges from 130 to 139 mm Hg. 

4. Stage 2 hypertension- In this stage, the numerator is 140 mm Hg or more, and the denominator is 90 mm Hg or excess. 

And suppose you have a blood pressure of more than 180/120 mm Hg. In that case, it will be a case of hypertensive emergency, and you need to rush to the hospital immediately. . 

Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure

Before you jump to any conclusion and start taking medications, make sure you know about these symptoms of hypertension:

1. Bleeding from the nose- If you witness blood coming from your nose more often, it is a sign of concern and high blood pressure. 

2. Headache- You might not get headaches at an early stage, but once you start getting pain in your head frequently, contact a doctor. 

3. Breathlessness- Having breathing problems is also a sign of hypertension, so keep your breathing pattern in check.

Remember that high blood pressure does not show symptoms, and the mentioned ones appear only when the case gets severe. So, you have to regularly check the ranges to avoid any sort of serious health problems. 

What Are The Causes Of High Blood Pressure?

There are various factors that could be causing hypertension in the human body, but sometimes you might not know which one of them is creating the problem. And here are a few of them:

1. Health Conditions Causing Hypertension

There is always a possibility that a health condition is creating the signs of high blood pressure, like chronic kidney disease or infections, diabetes, glomerulonephritis, sleep apnoea, thyroid and adrenal disorders, lupus, or scleroderma.

In such situations, you should consult the doctor, who will give you suitable medication to prevent things from getting serious. 

2. Troublesome Medications 

In many cases, doctors have found various medications contributing to hypertension, such as steroids, contraceptive pills, some cold and cough medicines, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, recreational drugs like amphetamines and cocaine, and a few selective serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors.

3. Some Common Factors Causing Hypertension

While talking about the common factors, being overweight and consuming too much salt tops the list. 

Then, less intake of fruits and vegetables, not exercising regularly, smoking, drinking alcohol and caffeinated drinks, not getting enough sleep, ageing, genetics, stress, family history of BP, living in a deprived area, and belonging to black Caribbean or African descent, are other reasons that your body is showing the signs of high BP. 

Even some herbal remedies can cause a shoot in blood pressure. So, be careful while taking such medicines and report your health provider immediately in case of discomfort.

Treating High Blood Pressure

In today’s time, the worst nightmare of young minds is relying on someone else for everyday chores in their older age. So, to avoid this situation and prevent high blood pressure from getting worse, they need to start with a healthy lifestyle while following the tips mentioned below:

1. Lose Those Extra Pounds

The first and most common cause of hypertension is being overweight. To prevent the adversities of this health issue, you should start exercising regularly. With the help of an expert, you can include yoga in your routine and see a decrease in your blood pressure with every inch lost. 

2. Make Friends With Fruits And Veggies

While trying to make lifestyle changes, don’t forget to add fruits and vegetables to your diet. Start consuming whole grains and low-fat dairy products, and avoid foods that increase cholesterol in your body. Also, control the intake of junk food because it comes with unhealthy fat content contributing to an increase in blood pressure.

3. Limit The Consumption Of Salt

In most cases, the cause of high blood pressure is consuming too much salt. So, to control the levels, keep checking salt consumption by adding less to your meals. Here, you can add potassium to your diet to lessen the effect of sodium on your BP. Also, avoid consuming processed food and always read the food labels to purchase low-sodium items. 

4. Limit Alcohol And Quit Smoking

Controlling the consumption of alcohol will show great results because drinking excess of it increases blood pressure and reduces the effectiveness of hypertension medications. 

Also, when you stop smoking, your blood pressure decreases, the risk of heart disease reduces, and your overall health improves. So, why not quit for a healthy and long life?

5. Work On Your Sleep

To prevent high blood pressure, patients should work on their sleep cycles. For example, if they have been sleeping for less than 6 hours a day for a few weeks, they need to check their BP because it contributes to hypertension. 

Get in touch with a professional to discuss all your sleep-related issues. Then, if needed, take prescribed medicines by a doctor and include meditation or yoga exercises for hypertension in your routine to calm down and get good sleep. 

6. Kick-Out The Stress

The moment you are over-stressed about something in your life, you will see a rise in your blood pressure. So, to prevent hypertension, you need to work on your tension and anxiety. 

You can start by enjoying some me time every day and staying away from stress triggers. Practising gratitude is also a good way. You can also share your emotions with loved ones or a professional. Getting guidance will help you a lot to keep things in control.

7. Monitor Your Blood Pressure Regularly

To prevent your condition from getting worse, check your blood pressure levels regularly and visit the doctor if you see any changes. They may help you by changing the medications or your diet.

The Final Say

Everything, from your mental to physical health, is in your hands. So if you know the problems, start working on them right away. And if it is high blood pressure bothering you, we have presented all the causes, symptoms, and treatments. So start following these effective tips and manage high blood pressure in no time.

FAQs

1. How often should you get your blood pressure checked?

Well, checking your blood pressure depends on your age and health condition. You can talk to your doctor about it and do as said.

2. What tests will diagnose hypertension?

To see if you have high blood pressure, the doctor will use a blood pressure cuff for measuring, and if it is on the higher side during two annual check-ups, you have to start with the treatment.

3. Can high blood pressure be prevented?

You can always prevent this condition by changing your lifestyle, eating fruits and vegetables, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, reducing salt intake, and exercising. 

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