What causes high blood pressure?

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Our body cells cannot survive without oxygen. Our heart pumps blood which brings oxygen from lungs and delivers it to the body cells through a network of arteries. Our arteries are made of tissues which stretch because of pressure applied by heart. This pressure is blood pressure (BP). So, it is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Many factors can trigger this pressure to increase which results in the strain on the arteries.

 Heart works as a pump. With each heartbeat, blood is forced into the arteries. It generates blood pressure which reaches at the peak when the blood is being pumped. This is called systolic pressure and when the heart rests between beats, blood pressure falls. This is called diastolic pressure. 

A normal adult’s systolic pressure remains less than 120 while diastolic pressure remains above 80 mmhg. Then there is the condition of Prehypertension, in which systolic and diastolic pressures remain between 120-139 and 81-89 mmHg, respectively. Various stages of high blood pressure are as follows:

Hypertension Stage 1:- Systolic 140 to 159 and diastolic 90 to 99 mmHg;

Hypertension Stage 2:- Systolic 160 or above and diastolic 100 or above mmHg; and

Hypertensive crisis:- When systolic and diastolic pressures cross 180 and 110 mmHg, respectively. This is a very critical condition and warrants immediate medical treatment. 

Normally our blood pressure doesn’t remain in a static condition. It increases when we work heavily and it falls when we rest but the continuous state of high blood pressure or hypertension is very damaging as it damages arteries and can cause a heart attack, brain stroke, kidney failure, Blood vessel damage, Aneurysm, Vision loss and off course Erectile dysfunction, etc. 

Causes of high blood pressure

• Lifestyle- Eating unhealthy and junk food, sedentary lifestyle, stress, anxieties etc. are the factors of an unhealthy lifestyle. People, who don’t take regular exercise and eat too much, tend to be obese. Fatty and junk food can deposit fats in arteries and block them. It puts a burden on the heart which increases BP. Eating too much salt, sugar, fats, junk food, smoking and consumption of alcohol increases BP.
• Age- Blood pressure increases with age as aged persons’ arteries become stiff with the age. Now, children are also facing this problem because of an unhealthy lifestyle.
• Family history- In some families, people have a history of high BP. So, a person belongs to such a family may also suffer from this problem. It is observed that people from African-Caribbean and South Asian communities are more prone to high BP than the others communities.
• Gender-It was seen that men are more susceptible to high BP than the women.
• Medical condition- Diseases and medical conditions like kidney disease, scleroderma, diabetes, lupus, hormone problems, etc can cause high BP.
• Use of drugs- Some drugs like steroids, recreational drugs, contraceptive pills, anti-depressants, anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, etc. can increase blood pressure. 

Symptoms of high BP

Normally, hypertension has no specific symptoms. It can be diagnosed with sphygmomanometer. However, symptoms like anxiety, dizziness, headaches, nosebleed, fatigue, shortness of breath are a few symptoms of this condition. A person who is obese and takes no exercise or who consumes too much junk food, smokes and drinks should visit a doctor regularly or measure his/her blood pressure in regular interval.

How to prevent hypertension

• Leading a healthy lifestyle- One should take exercise regularly and should lose weight, if one is obese or one’s weight is abnormal. One should also avoid sedentary lifestyle and be more physically active.
• Eating a healthy diet- One should limit the amount of sodium, which we get from common salt and increase the amount of potassium in one’s diet. One should avoid junk foods and oily foods and should take plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Avoiding unhealthy things- One should avoid or limit smoking and drinking.  
• Managing stress-Stress is one of the main causes of high BP. One should meditate, do yoga etc and meet consultant if one is facing too much pressure or stress. Emotional health is equally important for managing one’s BP. If possible, one should get away from the causes of stress and should go on holidays, etc.
• Avoid excessive use of social media- These days’ social media and electronic media are also making us sick and increasing our anxiety level. If possible, one should not stick to social media for the whole day.  

Live healthy, stay healthy.

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