Saturday, February 19, 2011

The Top Ten Causes Of High Blood Pressure

By Owen Jones


The percentage of the population in the countries of the West that is suffering from hypertension (aka high blood pressure) is rising all the time. High blood pressure is also called the 'silent killer', because there is no real notification that you have it, yet it can kill you stone dead all the same.

Whenever individuals say that they can feel their blood pressure rising, it is usually only an expression meaning that they are becoming angry or excited. You cannot know that your blood pressure is high without measuring it.

So, how can you reduce your blood pressure or stop it from rising without resorting to the daily ingestion of medication? Here are the top 10 causes of high blood pressure.

1] The first thing to do is lose weight if you are too fat. Just losing ten pounds can have quite a significant impact on your BP.

2] Smoking is a cause of high blood pressure, so you could chop that out.

3] Drinking alcohol to excess frequently also raises BP

4] A sedentary lifestyle or plain lack of exercise will not help either. If you cannot bring yourself to go to the gym, merely walk more. A walk of thirty minutes in the morning and in the evening will instigate a lot of difference.

5] Diet. It is critical to follow a healthy diet, which will also help you lose weight. Cut out most processed foods; cut down on meats and fatty foods and consume more fruits and vegetables. Sodium plays a big part in weight gain (through water retention) and is a key factor in hypertension. Reduce your salt intake. (Junk foods have a high salt content).

6] Try to be happy. Easier said than done in most cases, but try to develop a positive attitude. Stress plays a big part in creating hypertension. Exercise is said to relieve stress as is meditation and yoga. Attempt a couple of items and see what helps you.

7] Some illness and sleep disorders raise blood pressure as do some medications. Sleep disorders like sleep apnoea disrupt your sleep, preventing you from getting proper sleep, which increases BP as well. Sleep apnoea can be the result of being overweight, so you know how to deal with that, and if you think that medication is causing high BP, speak to your GP.

8] Age can be a cause and while there is nothing you can do about your age, you can attempt to be a 'young' whatever you are. People over the age of 55 generally start getting hypertension rather than younger individuals. You could strive to keep fit and optimistic. See exercise above.

9] Race is another factor over which you have no control, and Africans and their descendants are more prone to hypertension. If you fit this profile, become aware that you are in danger so check your BP regularly.

10] Fear, anxiety and depression can all have harmful influences on BP, so if any of these incapacitating conditions applies to you, seek help.




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