High blood pressure, clinically known as hypertension, is a prevalent health condition where the force of blood against your artery walls is consistently too high. This means your heart has to work harder than normal to circulate blood, which over time, can lead to serious health issues. It’s crucial to understand what causes high blood pressure to take preventive measures and manage this condition effectively.
To understand hypertension, it’s important to know how blood pressure is measured. Readings are given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) with two numbers: systolic (the pressure when the heart beats) over diastolic (the pressure when the heart rests between beats). Generally, hypertension is diagnosed when blood pressure readings consistently reach 130/80 mm Hg or higher.
Blood pressure categories are defined to help understand the severity:
- Normal blood pressure: Less than 120/80 mm Hg.
- Elevated blood pressure: Systolic between 120-129 mm Hg and diastolic less than 80 mm Hg.
- Stage 1 hypertension: Systolic between 130-139 mm Hg or diastolic between 80-89 mm Hg.
- Stage 2 hypertension: Systolic 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic 90 mm Hg or higher.
Readings above 180/120 mm Hg are considered a hypertensive crisis, requiring immediate medical attention.
Key Factors Contributing to High Blood Pressure
While there isn’t always a single, identifiable cause for high blood pressure, it typically develops over time due to a combination of factors. These are broadly categorized into primary (essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension, accounting for most cases, has no clear single cause but is linked to several risk factors. Secondary hypertension, on the other hand, is caused by an underlying health condition.
Lifestyle Factors: Major Contributors
Lifestyle choices play a significant role in the development of high blood pressure. Modifiable lifestyle factors are key areas for prevention and management:
- Diet high in sodium: Excessive sodium intake can lead to fluid retention, increasing blood volume and consequently, blood pressure.
- Diet low in potassium: Potassium helps balance sodium levels in the body. Insufficient potassium can disrupt this balance and contribute to high blood pressure.
- Lack of physical activity: Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight and lowers blood pressure. A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of hypertension.
- Obesity or being overweight: Excess weight puts extra strain on the cardiovascular system, leading to increased blood pressure.
- Smoking: Smoking damages blood vessels and temporarily raises blood pressure. Chronic smoking contributes to long-term hypertension.
- Excessive alcohol consumption: Regular heavy drinking can damage the heart and increase blood pressure levels.
- Stress: While occasional stress is normal, chronic stress can contribute to high blood pressure over time.
Underlying Health Conditions: Secondary Hypertension
In some cases, high blood pressure is a symptom of another health problem. This is known as secondary hypertension. Conditions that can cause secondary hypertension include:
- Kidney problems: Kidneys play a crucial role in regulating blood pressure. Kidney disease can disrupt this regulation, leading to hypertension.
- Diabetes: Diabetes can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of high blood pressure.
- Sleep apnea: This sleep disorder, characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, can lead to increased blood pressure.
- Thyroid problems: Both an overactive and underactive thyroid can contribute to high blood pressure.
- Certain medications: Some medications, like birth control pills, decongestants, and pain relievers, can raise blood pressure as a side effect.
- Adrenal gland tumors: Tumors in the adrenal glands can produce excess hormones that lead to hypertension.
- Congenital blood vessel defects: Some people are born with abnormalities in blood vessels that can cause high blood pressure.
Other Risk Factors
Beyond lifestyle and underlying conditions, other factors can increase your risk:
- Age: The risk of high blood pressure increases as you age.
- Family history: Having a family history of hypertension increases your likelihood of developing it.
- Ethnicity: High blood pressure is more common in certain ethnic groups.
Understanding what causes high blood pressure is the first step towards prevention and effective management. Regular blood pressure checks, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and addressing underlying health conditions are crucial for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels and reducing the risk of serious complications. It’s recommended to have your blood pressure checked regularly, starting from age 18, and more frequently if you have risk factors for hypertension.
