High blood pressure – or hypertension – is very common. It is a symptom of cardiovascular conditions but has many different causes. In the United Kingdom, all adults over the age of 40 can schedule a free blood pressure check with their GP. People under 40 that are at risk of developing hypertension are also given tests. Here are some of the most common causes of hypertension.
Smoking
Smoking is one of the most common causes of high blood pressure. Each time you smoke a cigarette, your blood pressure temporarily rises as your heart rate increases. As well as this temporary rise in blood pressure, smoking is responsible for long-term increases. Smoking damages the walls of your blood vessels. This can lead to atherosclerosis – a buildup of fat in the arteries that increases blood pressure drastically.
Luckily, the changes in blood pressure caused by smoking can be at least partially reversed. Quitting smoking is one of the single best actions a person can take to improve their cardiovascular health.
Weight Gain
People who gain a great deal of weight tend to have high blood pressure. This is because extra fat tissue increases vascular resistance. Veins are being pressed upon by restrictive layers of body tissue, leading to an overall increase in pressure. Losing weight in a healthy way is generally advised by doctors once weight gain starts to impact blood pressure. Although some damage to the cardiovascular system may be permanent in cases of extreme weight gain, most of these impacts can be reversed using long-term exercise regimes and healthy eating. Not all weight loss is healthy. People that are at risk of cardiovascular damage due to high weight should only ever gradually drop fat.
Heart Conditions
Hypertension is directly related to a number of very common heart conditions. It is vitally important that people with heart conditions check their blood pressure regularly. Ventricle hypertrophy, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease can all cause or contribute to high blood pressure.
GPs, hospitals, and private clinics need to have the right equipment so that they can check patients that have preexisting heart conditions every time they visit – if you are one of these health practices, you can look for a local supplier with blood pressure monitors for sale to regularly check the pressure of your patients. While many people living in rural areas choose to purchase blood pressure monitors of their own, they may get a more accurate reading when they come to their GP – make sure you have the best equipment on hand.
Saline Diet
A high salt diet can induce hypertension over time. This is because salt causes the body to hold onto water. This puts a strain on the vascular system and leads to high blood pressure.
Kidney Disease
When kidneys receive a poor supply of blood due to kidney disease, they release hormones that trigger the retainment of salt and water. The kidneys send out these hormones because they react to low blood pressure as if it is always caused by dehydration. This, in turn, leads to high blood sugar. Chronic kidney disease can have a very drastic impact on blood pressure in the long run, but this can be partially alleviated with lifestyle changes and drugs.
