High Blood Pressure: Causes And Treatment
High blood pressure might be a surprise to you when you go in for a yearly or work-required physical. Even people who have healthy diets and who are still quite young can have high blood pressure. There are a number of factors that can contribute to your high blood pressure, and there are some things you can do to reduce it. Here's what you need to know about what causes high blood pressure and why you should seek treatment.
Causes
If your doctor notices your blood pressure is high, they will likely want to find out if there is an underlying cause. For example, some diseases and conditions can be the reason why your blood pressure is elevated. For example, people with kidney problems or with thyroid hormone imbalances may have trouble regulating their blood pressure. Other conditions include sleep apnea, drug use, or tumors. Pregnancy can also cause high blood pressure.
However, for most people, blood pressure is not indicative of another problem. Primary hypertension means the blood pressure is the issue, front and center. Sometimes, this condition is hereditary; high blood pressure simply runs in the family. For others, lifestyle choices and weight can affect blood pressure. Atherosclerosis, the narrowing of the arteries, causes higher blood pressure.
Risks
The risks for prolonged hypertension include higher incidence of heart attack and stroke. You also risk developing other heart conditions. Usually, people who have high blood pressure are also at risk for chronic illness, such as adult-onset diabetes, because high blood pressure affects your metabolism.
Treatment
Once you notice that your blood pressure is high, you can take steps to control it. If it is just borderline high, your doctor may recommend lifestyle treatments. Increased physical activity and improved dietary choices can sometimes be all you need to keep your blood pressure at a healthier level, especially if you are sedentary now. You might reduce your sodium intake and focus on staying hydrated to make sure that you aren't retaining water. Losing excess weight is also an important part of helping to reduce your blood pressure. People with high blood pressure should also limit or eliminate tobacco use, and they should work on reducing alcohol consumption, since both can make blood pressure worse.
If your blood pressure is too high to rely just on lifestyle choices, you may need medication to bring down the pressure.
For more information, contact a local family medicine clinic, and visit sites such as http://www.bfpclinic.com.
