What Causes High Blood Pressure

What is high blood pressure?

Over time, this can damage your arteries and lead to serious complications such as heart attacks or stroke. Hypertension is another name for this condition.

High blood pressure is often called a silent killer by healthcare providers because it usually doesn’t cause any symptoms. You may not even be aware of the problem, but it is still causing damage to your body.

The blood pressure reading is the force or pressure of blood pushing on the blood vessel walls. You will see two numbers on your BP reading:

• The top number represents your systolic pressure. This is the pressure that your Heart exerts on your arterial walls as it beats or contracts.
• Diastolic pressure is measured at the bottom. This is the pressure in your artery walls when your heart relaxes between beats.

The blood pressure is measured by healthcare providers in millimeters (mmHg).

How can I tell if I am suffering from high blood pressure or not?

Only by getting your blood pressure measured can you determine if it is too high. Even if you are feeling healthy, it is important to visit your healthcare provider annually for a checkup. High blood pressure will not make you feel sick. These checkups can save your life. Your provider may recommend lifestyle changes or medications to reduce your BP if it is higher than normal.

What is high blood pressure?

The definition of high blood pressure varies slightly based on where you are. Healthcare providers in the U.S. define high blood pressure as:

• A top number of 130 mmHg or more,
• The bottom number (diastolic pressure) should be at least 80 mmHg.

Hypertension is defined by healthcare providers in Europe as:

• or as the top number, if not 140 mmHg.
• The bottom number should be at least 90 mmHg.

How common is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is a very common condition. In the United States, 47% of adult population suffer from high blood pressure. About 116,000,000 people are affected. 37 million of those have blood pressures at least 140/90mmHg.

In 2020, high blood pressure was a factor in or caused the death of over 670,000 Americans.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.2 billion people aged 30 to 79 worldwide have hypertension. Around 2/3 of these individuals live in countries with low or middle income.

Symptoms Of Causes

What are the symptoms and signs of high blood tension?

High blood pressure usually does not cause any symptoms. It’s no wonder that healthcare providers refer to it as a “silent thief.” You may have had high blood pressure without knowing it for many years. According to the World Health Organization, 46% of adult hypertensive adults don’t even know it.

If your blood pressure is higher than 180/120 mmHg, you might experience symptoms such as headaches, nosebleeds or heart palpitations. This high blood pressure is a Hypertensive Crisis and requires immediate medical attention.

What are the different types of high blood tension?

You will be diagnosed with either one of the following two types of hypertension:

• Hypertension primary. This more common form of high blood pressure is caused by aging, lifestyle factors such as not exercising enough and other factors.
• Secondary Hypertension. This type of high blood tension can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, or medications you are taking.

Hypertension (both primary and secondary) can coexist. A secondary cause, for example, can increase blood pressure.

High blood pressure can also be temporary or constant. Hypertension can be classified into:

• Hypertension in white coats: At home, your blood pressure is normal.
• Masked Hypertension: You have normal blood pressure in a medical setting, but your BP at home is elevated.
• Hypertension that persists: You have elevated blood pressure in the hospital and at home.
• Nocturnal Hypertension: When you sleep, your blood pressure goes up.

What causes hypertension in adults?

The cause of primary hypertension is not always clear. It is usually caused by a combination of factors. Some of the most common causes are:

• Unhealthy eating habits (including diets high in sodium).
• Lack of physical activity
• Alcoholic beverages are consumed in high quantities.

Healthcare providers can identify at least one cause of secondary hypertension. Secondary hypertension can be caused by:

• Among these medications are anti-immune suppressants nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and oral contraceptives, pill.
• Kidney disease.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
• Primary Aldosteronism Conn’s Syndrome.
• Drug use for recreational purposes (including cocaine and amphetamines).
• Renal vascular disease is a condition that affects blood flow through your kidneys arteries or veins. Renal arterial stenosis can be a good example.
• Use of tobacco (including smoking vaping, and using smokeless cigarettes).

Is high blood tension genetic?

Researchers think genes are involved in high blood-pressure. You are at a higher risk for high blood pressure if you or a member of your biological family has it.

What are the risks factors for high blood tension?

High blood pressure is more likely to occur if you have the following risk factors:

• Have a biological family member with high blood-pressure, heart disease, or diabetes.
• Being over age 55.
• Being Black.
• Certain medical conditions such as metabolic disorder or thyroid diseases.
• obesity is a condition where you are overweight.
• Exercise is not enough
• Foods high in sodium.
• Smoking, or using tobacco products.
• Too much drinking.

What are the complications associated with this condition?

Hypertension left untreated can lead to serious health issues including:

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).
• Stroke.
• Heart attack.
• Peripheral arterial disease.
• Kidney failure.
• Complications during pregnancy.
• Eye damage.
• Vascular dementia.

Diagnosis & Tests

How can high blood pressure be diagnosed?

The arm cuff is used by healthcare providers to measure blood pressure. Your blood pressure is usually measured by your provider at your annual checkup or other appointments.

Your provider may diagnose you with high blood tension if you get high readings on two separate occasions. You’ll be asked about your medical history, and how you live to determine possible causes.

Treatment and Management

What are the treatment options for high blood tension?

Treatment for high blood pressure includes lifestyle changes and medication. Your healthcare provider will recommend a treatment plan based on the blood pressure readings you have, your causes of high blood pressure, and any underlying conditions.

Lower your blood pressure with lifestyle changes

You might be wondering if it is possible to lower your blood-pressure naturally. In some cases, you can lower your blood-pressure without taking medication. If you have high blood pressure or hypertension stage 1, your doctor may suggest that you start with lifestyle modifications.

You can lower your blood-pressure naturally by following these proven methods:

• Maintain a healthy weight. You can get a range of weights from your healthcare provider.
• Eat a healthy diet. The DASH diet is a good example. This diet is full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat milk.
• Reduce salt. Limit your daily sodium intake to 1,500 mg. You can reduce your sodium intake by 1,000 milligrams per day if this seems too hard at first.
• Eat enough potassium. You should aim to consume between 3,500 and 5,000 milligrams of potassium per day. This is best done through food, rather than supplementation. Bananas, avocados, and potatoes with skin are some foods that contain potassium.
• Exercise. For tips on how to start, ask your healthcare provider. Start slowly and gradually increase your weekly aerobic exercise to 150 minutes. It is also beneficial to do resistance training, such as lifting light weights.
• Limit alcohol. Moderation is key if you decide to consume alcohol-containing beverages.

Some providers may recommend lifestyle changes in conjunction with medication to lower blood pressure.