{"id":1188,"date":"2017-11-13T06:59:01","date_gmt":"2017-11-13T06:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=1188"},"modified":"2021-03-15T16:35:43","modified_gmt":"2021-03-15T16:35:43","slug":"10-high-blood-pressure-causes-will-surprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/10-high-blood-pressure-causes-will-surprise\/","title":{"rendered":"14 High Blood Pressure Causes That Will Surprise You"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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High blood pressure (also called hypertension) describes a condition in which the pressure inside your circulatory system has built up to an unhealthy level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What this means more precisely, is that the amount of blood and its density has become somewhat too great for the closed system. Pressure describes the number of particles in an enclosed space and the more densely packed this is, the higher the pressure. A \u2018vacuum\u2019 means that the space is completely devoid of particles. On the other hand, high pressure means that there is so much gas or fluid in the space that it is fit to burst. Think of a balloon \u2013 as you keep pumping it up, the pressure rises and eventually it bursts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you can imagine, this isn\u2019t a great state to be in and it can actually be very dangerous. This is what increases the chances of heart attack and it can also cause a number of other symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, confusion, irregular heartbeat, blood in the urine and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For all these reasons, you should consult with a doctor at your earliest convenience.
At the same time, it pays to consider what might be the cause of your hypertension. And the things you discover may just surprise you! Read on to learn some of the more shocking causes for high blood pressure\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Stress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This may not surprise you seeing as just how often it gets the blame. But what might surprise you is just why this has such a profound impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see, stress <\/a>triggers what is known as the \u2018fight or flight response\u2019. In this response, the body reacts by producing more adrenaline and various other hormones designed to put the body in a state ready for action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes a heightened heart rate to improve blood flow to the brain and muscles. But did you also know that it thickens the blood in order to increase clotting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>2. Lack of Sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lack of sleep can surprisingly lead to high blood pressure<\/a>. This is because the body actually goes into a kind of stress\/shock state when you are very tired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is its way of telling you something is wrong and that you need to stop, find a safe spot and take a lie down!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, many of us ignore this sign and instead just plough on \u2013 which only has the effect of making us feel much worse!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>3. BPAs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

BPAs are chemicals that are used to create a lot of plastic products and more. These have recently come under fire due to a large number of unwanted side effects that have been exposed in studies. And among the most damning of these is the fact that they may lead to higher blood pressure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While society catches up and moves over to BPA-free products, you can do your part by making the switch early. Avoid plastic bottles and not only will you be helping your heart <\/a>\u2013 you\u2019ll also be helping the planet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>4. Overtraining<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you hit the gym often or if you are a career athlete, then you are probably in pretty great shape overall. The problem is that you can also get too much of a good thing in this regard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is to say that if you train very hard and don\u2019t give yourself the necessary breaks, you can eventually start to feel \u2018overtrained\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will lead to a poor ratio of testosterone <\/a>to cortisol, which is indicative of not getting enough rest and which can lead to you feeling tired, lethargic and ultimately high in blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>5. Cardiovascular Weakness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have a relatively weak heart rate, then this actually means that you need to work much harder to get the same amount of blood around your body at the same rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What might surprise you is that you can be very healthy overall and this might still be a problem. In fact, you can train with lots of cardio and still have this issue!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem is that you need a specific type of cardio to build up this resistance.
Specifically, you need \u2018steady state\u2019 cardio, which means you\u2019ll be running long distances or cycling. This increases the size of the left ventricle, which enables the heart to pump more blood <\/a>around the body at a slower rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>6. Dehydration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that over a third of the population is in a state of chronic dehydration<\/a>? This comes down to a simple lack of awareness, but the results can be very serious. To overcome the issue, make sure that you drink water regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This improves blood pressure by helping to dilute the blood. But it\u2019s also useful to consider that all those other negative health impacts can ultimately cause stress and high blood pressure too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>7. Sugar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We all tend to associate fat with high blood pressure but actually this is often not fair. Fat became something of a scapegoat in the world of nutrition and while science has been clearing its name lately, popular opinion hasn\u2019t quite caught up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sugar <\/a>is actually far more responsible for high blood pressure and that\u2019s because it can cause inflammation. This makes it harder for blood to get around the body, increases the heartrate and can even lead to nerve damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid fizzy drinks \u2013 a single 16 ounce can of soda drink can contain over nine teaspoons of sugar!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>8. Omega 6<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of inflammation, another surprising culprit here is omega 6 <\/a>fatty acid. This is an essential fatty acid like omega 3 and it is it not \u2018bad for you\u2019 per say. The problem is that when you have too much Omega 6, it leads to inflammation and that causes high blood pressure as we have seen. The big problem? Omega 6 is added to a ton of food to increase its shelf life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that there is an easy way to lower Omega 6, which is simply to eat more Omega 3. The body keeps these two in a kind of ratio and as one goes up, the other must go down. Eat more O3 and it will reduce the O6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>9. Trans Fats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In case you had thought that you were safe to eat fats<\/a>, you do still need to proceed with a little caution. The big issue here is that trans fats still do raise bad cholesterol and are damaging. These are the fats that tend to be added to processed foods, so if you\u2019re unsure just stick with natural and unprocessed goods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturated fats are found in things like chicken, eggs, red meat and these are the kinds that are okay. While they are high in cholesterol, they have actually been found to raise the good kind \u2013 which is HDL (high density lipoprotein).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>10. Apnea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We discussed already the impact that a lack of sleep can have on your blood pressure. The next question is whether you might have poor sleep and not realise it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have sleep apnea<\/a>, then you have a condition that causes you to wake up intermittently throughout the night because you are stopping breathing. This leads to stress but it also causes you to feel unrested in the morning. Go to a sleep clinic and have yourself tested!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Smoking cigarettes are the leading cause of lung cancer<\/a>, coronary artery disease and heart attack in the United States. Every year, more than 440,000 Americans die from tobacco-related cancer deaths. Smoking has a vasoconstrictive effect on the cardiovascular system, causing the walls of blood vessels to expand, and the arteries to narrow, leading to higher blood pressure readings in affected individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smokers can have blood pressure readings at dangerous levels by the end of the day. Smoking combined with high levels of stress is a deadly cocktail that can result in various forms of cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By quitting smoking, you can drop your blood pressure to a safe range within 48 to 72-hours after extinguishing your last cigarette. Anyone diagnosed with high blood pressure, and then continues to smoke, is asking for trouble. The next time you visit your doctor\u2019s office could be for diagnosis of a severe cardiovascular complication that takes your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Alcoholism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s nothing wrong with an occasional drink with friends. However, when drinking becomes a daily habit, it can lead to the development of alcoholism<\/a>. Dependency on alcohol is a dangerous situation that leads to the development of a wide variety of diseases and cardiovascular complications \u2013 including high blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alcoholics receive issues with their liver, kidneys, stomach, and urinary tract, as well as anxiety and elevated stress levels that result in hypertension. More than 88,000 Americans die of alcoholism every year, making it the third leading cause of death in the United States. This condition is a severe affliction that\u2019s similar to drug addiction, and affected individuals may not have the willpower to stop by themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you or anyone you know is showing signs of alcoholism, reach out to them and confront them about their situation. Offer to help place them in a program to help them deal with their addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>13. Stimulants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Do you enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning? You\u2019re one of the millions of Americans that love to start their day with a steaming hot cup of joe. However, having more than two cups of coffee during the day can overstimulate your nervous system<\/a>, resulting in elevations in blood pressure, as well as heart palpitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the classic symptoms of overstimulation \u2013 is hypertension. It\u2019s practically impossible to develop hypertension from a few cups of coffee every day. However, if the person increases their habit to a dozen cups, along with rising stress levels, and social pressures, they may end up developing an anxiety disorder that raises their blood pressure significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you think your drinking too much coffee, or find that you\u2019re pounding plenty of energy drinks throughout the day, you may be suffering from hypertensive-related overstimulation and should consider slowly backing off of your habit. Gradually reduce your coffee and energy drink consumption to allow your body to wean itself off of the caffeine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Illegal Drugs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Consuming illegal drugs such as cocaine <\/a>and methamphetamine, cause dramatic increases in blood pressure in a short period. Users of these drugs often experience anxiety disorders such as paranoia. As a result, their overstimulated state places stress on their circulatory, hormonal, and cardiovascular systems, leading to an increase in blood pressure to hypertensive states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some users report being able to feel their hearts pounding in their chests after using but still, continue with their habit due to its addictive nature. After stopping the drugs, the patient may notice that they have permanent cardiovascular damage to the heart and lungs. Often, doctors cannot reverse this damage, and affected individuals remain in a permanent state of hypertension that requires management with blood pressure medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a friend or family member, you suspect of using illegal drugs, arrange an intervention and let them know you are here to help them when they are ready to change their behavior and enter rehabilitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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