High Blood Pressure: Causes 

Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure. Now, it's not a disease itself. It's a condition when the pressure in the blood is too high. This is dangerous for the heart and brain especially.

The vast majority of those people have what's called "essential hypertension," which means they don't have an underlying cause for their condition, such as diabetes or kidney disease. Also, most people who have high blood pressure don't show any sign that they're affected by it.

The condition is underdiagnosed and undertreated. In fact, an analysis of data from the National Health Interview Survey suggested that one in three adults with hypertension doesn't know he or she is affected. High Blood pressure causes serious conditions such as heart attack, stroke, brain damage and vision loss.

It is of extreme importance to control this condition as uncontrolled hypertension has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and non-cardiovascular disease.

By working their way towards normalizing their blood pressure, individuals can decrease their risk of developing these serious, life-threatening conditions but what exactly causes high blood pressure?

It is important to understand high blood pressure causes in order to learn how to properly manage the condition. While there are several factors that contribute to high blood pressure, these are the most common:

1. Blood pressure increases with age
2. Obesity
3. Consumption of excess sodium
4. Insufficient physical activity
5. Family history of hypertension

The aforesaid causes are also the factors that can increase the risk of individuals developing hypertension.

Symptoms of High Blood-Pressure

High blood pressure or hypertension occurs when the pressure in your blood vessels is high. As every individual is unique, so are the symptoms associated with hypertension. Following are symptoms generally associated with high blood pressure.

1. Severe headaches
2. Fatigue or confusion
3. Vision problems
4. Difficulty breathing
5. Irregular heartbeat
6. Pounding in the chest, neck or ears

When to See A Doctor?

If you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms, you could be at risk of having a hypertensive crisis that could lead to other serious health issues like a heart attack or stroke. Most of the time, high blood pressure does not cause headaches or nosebleeds but in a hypertensive crisis when blood pressure is above 180/120, these symptoms can be seen.

If your blood pressure is extremely high and you have these symptoms, rest for 10 minutes and then check again. If your blood pressure is still unusually high, it is time to see your doctor as these issues can indicate a medical emergency.

It is extremely important to remember that hypertension does not usually have symptoms. So, check your BP regularly and yearly routine health checkups should be followed without any excuses. 

If you have high blood pressure, your doctor might recommend that you monitor it more often at home. You may also need to make some lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure. Untreated hypertension can lead to serious diseases, including stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and vision problems.

How to Manage High Blood-Pressure?

Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood on the walls of the blood vessels. The pressure is usually higher in arteries and veins than it is in the heart and other cavities. Keeping your pressure normal lets you have a healthy life.

The right amount of pressure is required to push the blood through the arteries, capillaries and veins. The best way to control blood pressure is by keeping the stress factor at work, home and everywhere else at a minimum. Having this normal level of pressure will help you to live an active life.

While many people assume they know what they need to do to lower blood pressure, they may be surprised to learn that there are many different ways to help. Some of the tips are easy to incorporate into daily life, while others will require more effort.

Here are some tips that can help you manage high blood pressure:

Keep track of your blood pressure: Make it a point to check your blood pressure regularly. It is advised that you do this at least once a week. This will ensure that you are keeping accurate track of your blood pressure and whether or not it is getting better or worse. Also, keep a record of your blood pressure regularly and note down the change in levels over time.

Note your high blood pressure diet: It has been noted that certain foods can affect your blood pressure levels and thereby help in managing them. Incorporate healthy food like oats, spinach, tomatoes and fatty fish into your diet plan. Think about a way to incorporate low sodium foods into your daily diet.

Take Away

High blood pressure is much more common than most people realize and can be dangerous if not treated. According to the CDC, one in every three adults has high blood pressure. Hypertension is when blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or higher. Hypertension is a common condition and means that the heart has to work harder than normal to push blood around the body.