What Causes High Blood Pressure || Health Fettle ||

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

People often don’t know what causes high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, but it is the most common cardiovascular ailment. People suffering from high blood pressure generally come to know about it during a routine checkup.

           Blood pressure means the pressure or force that the blood exerts on the walls of the arteries as it flows through the body. Just like the water on the hose or the air on the tire, the blood also exerts some pressure on the arteries. So, when the pressure to too much, it can damage the arteries which can result in a heart stroke or other cardiac ailments.

                               High blood pressure is known to be the prime reason for cardiac attack and stroke. Nowadays many people suffer from hypertension in the world.

What Causes High Blood Pressure  || Health Fettle ||

Measurement of Blood Pressure

The blood pressure expressed through a couple of numbers. The higher number is referred to as the systolic pressure. It denotes the pressure on the walls of the arteries when the heart pumps the blood. The lower number is known as the diastolic pressure that represents the pressure on the arteries when the heart rests in between the pumping.

       During birth, the normal blood pressure of the child is 90/60. In the case of a healthy adult, normal blood pressure is 120/80. Don’t be alarmed if it shows a high value if you measure it immediately after playing a game of badminton or delivering a fiery speech. The blood pressure in our body keeps changing depending upon our physical and emotional state.

       Normal blood pressure may also vary with each person. It also varies in different body parts. High blood pressure makes the heart overwork and thus puts pressure on it. Apart from damaging the blood vessel, it can affect the eye, kidneys, and brain.

         If a person’s blood pressure shows the reading of 140/90 or higher twice, then it can be said that the person suffers from hypertension. Reading of 200/120 or higher warrants immediate treatment. But for persons with diabetes, even a reading of 130/80 necessitates immediate medical attention as diabetic persons are more prone to cardiac ailments.

       Medical researches recognize 120/80 as the threshold limit of high blood pressure. A slightly higher reading than this is known as pre-hypertension. This condition can lead to damage arteries, brain, kidneys, and heart. Hence, such people need proper medical treatment.

       Notwithstanding this constant danger, many people are not aware of their condition. Hypertension is also known as the ‘silent killer’ due to the fact it does not really manifest in the form of some early symptoms, even though it can cause serious damage to the different organs in the body. When not treated, hypertension can result in a cardiac attack, vision problem, kidney failures and strokes, which can sometimes prove to be fatal.

               It can even result in heart failure. People suffering from this may have difficulty in breathing. Unusually high pressure in the range of diastolic of 130 or a systolic pressure of more than 200 is known as malignant hypertension. The condition of people suffering from this can worsen rapidly and can damage the organs. Hence, such people need immediate medical treatment.

                                         But with proper care and attention, hypertension can be kept under control. The first thing you should do it keep a tab on your blood pressure at regular intervals.

What Causes High Blood Pressure  || Health Fettle ||

Who is prone to suffer from hypertension?

The following groups of people are more prone to be affected by high blood pressure:

• Are obese
• Are over the age of 55
• Lead a sedentary lifestyle
• Indulge in excessive drinking
• Smoke a lot
• Take a diet high in sodium and saturated fats
• Take medications like decongestants, NSAIDS and cocaine regularly
• Black people

What Can Cause High Blood Pressure?

Essential hypertension

In the case of 95 percent of people, suffering from hypertension, the reasons for the ailment can’t be established. Such cases of hypertension are known as essential hypertension. It is also called Primary Hypertension.

             Although the causes of essential hypertension are yet to be fully understood, there are certain guiding factors. Hypertension is hereditary in nature and men are more likely to suffer from it than the women. The chance of black people developing it is twice than that of white people. Black women suffer most from it after the age of 65.

Large intake of salt causes high blood pressure

It is also linked to the food we eat and the lifestyle we lead. High salt intake is known to cause it. That is why a high incidence of hypertension is reported in cases of people living in the northern island in Japan, who have the highest per capita intake of salt. On the other hand, people with little salt intake generally do not suffer from it.

           Most of the people suffering from hypertension are ‘salt sensitive’, which means a small amount of salt more than the body needs, can accentuate the blood pressure. Diabetes, anxiety, obesity, consumption of alcohol, lack of exercise and inadequate intake of calcium, magnesium, and potassium also causes high blood pressure.

Secondary hypertension

If the reason behind hypertension can be established, then it is termed as secondary hypertension. Kidney diseases are known to be the main cause of this. Other reasons can be tumors and secretion of too much by the adrenal glands and thyroid diseases. Pregnancy, birth control pills, and some other medications also cause high blood pressure.