CAUSES OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
(Hypertension)
What causes high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the measure of the force
of blood pushing against blood vessel walls.
The heart pumps blood into blood vessels,
which carry the blood throughout the body.
High blood pressure, also called
hypertension, is dangerous because it
makes the heart work harder to pump blood
out to the body and contributes to hardening
of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, to stroke,
kidney disease, and to heart failure.
WHAT IS "NORMAL" BLOOD PRESSURE?
According to world health, the value given
for hypertension is 140/90mmHg. A blood
pressure reading is written like this: 120/80.
It's read as "120 over 80." The top number is
Called the systolic, and bottom number is
called the diastolic. The ranges are:
NORMAL: Less than 120 over 80 (120/80)
ELEVATED: 120-129/less than 80
- Stage 1 high blood pressure: 130-139/80-89
- Stage 2 high blood pressure: 140 and above/
90 and above
HYPERTENSION CRISIS: with systolic higher
than 180/ diastolic higher than 120 - (See a
doctor right away)
Note: If your blood pressure is above the
normal range, talk to your doctor about how
to lower it.
WHAT CAUSES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
The exact causes of high blood pressure are
not known, but several things may play a
role, including:
- smoking
- Being overweight or obese
- Lack of physical activity
- Too much salt in the diet
*Too much alcohol consumption (more
than l to 2 drinks per day) - Stress
- Older age
- Genetics
- Family history of high blood pressure
- Chronic kidney disease
- Adrenal and thyroid disorders
- Sleep apnea
TYPES OF HYPERTENSION
- ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION
In as many as 95% of high blood pressure
Cases in the U.S., the underlying Cause Can't
be found. This type of high blood pressure is
Called "essential hypertension."
Though essential hypertension remains
somewhat mysterious, it has been linked to
Certain risk factors. High blood pressure
tends to run in families and is more likely to
affect men than women. Age and race also
play a role. In the United States, blacks are
twice as likely as whites to have high blood
pressure, although the gap begins to narrow
around age 44. After age 65, black women
have the highest inCidenCe of high blood
pressure.
Essential hypertension is also greatly
influenced by diet and lifestyle. The link
between salt and high blood pressure is
especially compelling. People living on the
northern islands of Japan eat more salt per
Capita than anyone else in the world and
have the highest incidence of essential
hypertension. By contrast, people who add
no salt to their food show virtually no traces
of essential hypertension.
Most people with high blood pressure are
"salt sensitive," meaning that anything more
than the minimal bodily need for salt is too
much for them and increases their blood
pressure. Other factors that can raise the
risk of having essential hypertension include
obesity; diabetes; stress; insufficient intake
of potassium, calcium, and magnesium; lack
of physical activity; and chronic alcohol
consumption.
- SECONDARY HYPERTENSION
When a direct cause for high blood pressure
can be identified, the condition is described
as secondary hypertension. Among the
known causes of secondary hypertension,
kidney disease ranks highest. Hypertension
can also be triggered by tumors or other
abnormalities that cause the adrenal glands
(small glands that sit atop the kidneys) to
secrete excess amounts of the hormones
that elevate blood pressure. Birth control
pills - specifically those containing estrogen
- and pregnancy can boost blood pressure,
as can medications that constrict blood
vessels.
WHO IS MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP HIGH
BLOOD PRESSURE?
People with family members who have
high blood pressure (Heredity)smokers
Pregnant women
Women who take birth control pills
People over the age of 35
People who are overweight or obese
People who are not active
People who drink alcohol excessively
People who eat too many fatty foods or
foods with too much saltPeople who have sleep apnea
