15 Likely Causes Of Hypertension

Jun 21, 2018 by apost team

Globally, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for men and women. When someone develops hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, the force at which your arteries are pumping blood from your heart to other organs is too high. High blood pressure causes stress on the heart, leading to death. 

Hypertension becomes a problem when the rate of systolic blood pressure, which measures pressure within blood vessels during heartbeats, is over 140. This, coupled with a diastolic blood pressure, which measures pressure in the arteries during contractions of the heart muscle of over 90, create a high blood pressure issue.

These 15 common problems are all factors that combine to develop hypertension. 

The American Heart Association warns that ingesting high levels of sodium (over 1,500mg per day) can cause an abundance of health issues. High blood pressure, many cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes can all be developed no matter if they exist in your family history, and also despite your age and current health status. 

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When aging, the blood pressure of our bodies will increase naturally. Your risk for hypertension becomes even greater with age if you lack proper nutrition, ingest too much fat or sugar, smoke cigarettes, and drink alcohol to excess. 

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder during which breathing may stop and start repeatedly throughout the night, causing decreased oxygen levels. This can lead to cardiovascular stress and a rise in blood pressure. 

Carrying excess weight is connected to many causes of high blood pressure. Factors such as a lack of activity, poor nutrition, high sodium levels and increased levels of insulin can all cause your arteries to thicken, further paving the way for health problems such as strokes and heart attacks. 

High blood pressure often develops because of a continuing sedentary lifestyle. This lifestyle is characterized by a lack of activity and exercise, which can cause weight gain and stress on your heart. 

Binge drinking, also known as an overindulgence in alcohol, as well as the use of drugs for recreation, such as stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines, can all put pressure on your heart, damaging your arteries in the process. 

While we know an excess of sodium can cause hypertension, sugary and fatty diets can also cause hypertension and other conditions related to the heart, such as diabetes and obesity. Fortunately, some types of food, listed here, can actually help decrease your blood pressure and solve your hypertension problem. 

Hypertension is caused when your arteries are constricted, which causes your heart to have to put in more effort to pump blood to your organs. Smoking cigarettes can cause your arteries to become clogged with nicotine and is directly correlated to developing heart disease. 

Some types of conditions related to your hormone levels can put excess pressure on your heart, resulting in high blood pressure. Cushing’s syndrome is an example, characterized by a body’s production of excess steroid hormones. 

Kidney disease is a huge factor in the development of hypertension. When your adrenal glands, located by the kidneys, distribute too much cortisol, your blood pressure increases rapidly. 

Hypertension can be linked to a poor diet that lacks adequate and recommended amounts of nutrients. Potassium and vitamin D are both important nutrients that can contribute positively to your health. Potassium can help level out the amount of sodium in your system. Vitamin D deficiency won’t cause heart disease alone, but a lack of it can have negative effects on how your kidneys produce enzymes that react with your blood pressure. 

As previously mentioned, excessive sodium levels and carrying extra weight can cause you to develop diabetes, which is a factor that increases your risk of hypertension. High blood sugar, or type I diabetes, can also be a cause of hypertension if not managed properly with medical care. Increased levels of glucose among type II diabetics can also be linked to hypertension, but other causes such as diabetic medication and being overweight could also be a factor. 

The hormones created by your thyroid can impact many of your body’s processes, such as your heart rate, muscle movement, and temperature. When your thyroid produces too much hormone, you develop hyperthyroidism, and when your thyroid produces not enough of the hormone, you have hypothyroidism. Both of these disorders are risk factors for hypertension due to their impact on the arteries and the stress they cause on the heart. 

Unfortunately, many medications, such as birth control or antidepressants, have an unwanted side effect of high blood pressure. Medications that may help your body in other areas can cause high blood pressure by causing blood vessel constriction or even because of their ability to make your body retain water. It’s important to weigh the risks or even seek alternative medications with your doctor. 

Chances are we’ve all felt stress in our lives, but an excessive amount can cause all kinds of health problems, ranging from depression to heart disease. It’s also common that the way you allow yourself to relax and de-stress, such as consuming alcohol or eating sugary food, will raise your blood pressure levels even further. Try finding healthy ways to ease your mind instead. 

It’s unfortunate that heart disease can negatively impact so many men and women. However, when we know the common causes, it’s easier to eliminate these risk factors and lead healthy lifestyles. Is your health impacted by any of these 15 causes? Show this article to your friends and family and let us know your thoughts!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!