Causes Of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure or hypertension can be caused by a variety of factors. It could be affected by stress, diet, medications, pregnancy, obesity, alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine. There are others, but it is only best to mention the most common causes.

Blood pressure is the pressure which the blood pushes into the blood vessels when it flows through it. The heart, which pumps the blood, will pump harder or slower, depending on the circumstances. Fear can make the heart thump faster and this can also increase high blood pressure.

For hypertension, that condition where the blood pressure is chronic, this could be a symptom of a much larger problem. A diet full of triglycerides will not rid the body of excess fat; the fat can increase the weight and increases the pumping action of the heart to better push the blood into the blood vessels which are also under pressure because of the excess weight.

Atherosclerosis, of the hardening of the arteries because of triglycerides and high VLDL levels can also increase the pressure. With atherosclerosis, the pliability of the blood vessels is compromised, making it rigid and tough to flow through. This will eventually lead to heart failure and sometimes the heart to hypertrophy.

In a diet full of salty foods, usually from junk foods like potato chips and fries, the high salt can make the fluids get retained in the body. As the fluid builds up, this will cause a pressure on the cells of the body itself as well as the blood vessels. Again creating a pressure that will make the heart work double time will eventually lead to heart failure, if not, then the kidneys will suffer.

If the kidneys get affected, the inability to expel the excess fluids will result to a nephrotic condition. Here, edema can be focal or generalized and again, the hypertension will occur.

Who are the most likely victims of high blood pressure?

Anyone who is under stress, who works too hard, eats the wrong foods which are generally cheap and fulfilling junk foods, coupled with alcohol, cigarettes and the abundance of caffeine. So who are they? Almost anyone in the modern world who is under stress and works overtime to make ends meet.

The only way to avoid hypertension is of course a change of lifestyle and a change of diet. For those who think this is too much to ask for, then hypertension will be a part of their lives and they will be the highest risk of suffering from heart attacks.