High Blood Pressure in the U.S. has reached rampant proportions and yet most people are unaware of what causes hypertension. With an alarming 33% of the inhabitants impacted by this medical condition it is imperative that people become informed about the causes and preventions. The worst part of this statistic is that the majority of folks with High Blood Pressure are helpless to control the disease, despite the reality that lifestyle changes can accomplish the job. The importance of this situation is apparent when we observe the impact it is having on the population when it comes to the mortality rate in terms of heart attack, apoplexy, and other related diseases.
Some of the more typical reasons for the condition are:
- Lifestyle: Stress is among the prime causes of high blood pressure. You have a strong possibility of acquiring the condition if your day to day routine is filled with exceptional demands and strict expectations at a place of employment or the home.
- Over weight: One of the most typical and commonly understood risk factors for high blood pressure is extra weight around the midriff. Taking in excessive quantities of sodium, sugar, and trans-fats can cause obesity; this also places a demand on the heart muscle to pump blood to the extra inches on your body, which leads to high blood pressure.
- Lack of exercise: Exercising frequently is probably one of the more helpful behaviors we can practice to avoid excess weight and decrease the effects of anxiety and stress on our bodies. With every modern convenience at our fingertips, it could be difficult to get adequate exercise throughout our ordinary everyday activities. As long as we choose the elevators instead of the stairs, or the car instead of walking, we shall unsurprisingly deprive ourselves of very necessary physical exercise.
- Heredity and genetics: One of the major causes of Secondary Hypertension, which is not triggered by diet or environment, is genetics and heredity. If either one of a pair of parents have high blood pressure, then the probability of their sons or daughters coming down with the condition is significantly higher. The offspring of the parents affected by this condition also typically fail to lead a way of life conducive to a healthy heart, and thousands of them develop high blood pressure extremely early in their lives.
- Glandular conditions: Other contributing aspects of Secondary Hypertension and other cardio related conditions are auto-immune and glandular dysfunctions such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism.
- Drinking alcohol: Regardless of misinterpreted statements about it being beneficial to the heart, alcohol is really a direct cause of high blood pressure. The brain, heart, and liver, are all directly affected by alcohol, which then impacts the nervous and circulatory systems. As if that wasn't bad enough, the excessive calorie content of alcohol can subsequently result in hypertension by causing a person to gain weight.
- Salt: If you were to ask the average person; “what causes hypertension?” They would probably tell you; “Salt.” It is well known that salt is one of the biggest causes of high blood pressure. The recommended daily allowance for salt is 3000mls; however most U.S. citizens are consuming more than twice the recommended amount. Sodium, along with other salts like potassium, is responsible for fluid retention in the body. Excessive sodium contributes to higher fluid volume which elevates the stress on the kidneys and heart.
The body releases a number of hormones including adrenaline into the body like a defense mechanism when the brain detects danger, and it can cause constriction of the blood vessels. To make sure the body is able to control a fight or flight situation, it will be vital for the flow of blood to get to the body's organs fast. In response to this crisis, blood pressure is increased. However, persistent stress leads to a continual high blood pressure, which can quickly turn into one of several dysfunctions. Add to this some unhealthy eating behaviors and not enough sleep and the issue is compounded.
Fortunately, we can manage our high blood pressure with natural methods that are quite simple to follow, and that can in turn lead to generally enhanced health. Because of the fact that high blood pressure does cause numerous health issues, it would be wise to take steps ahead of time to avoid the onset of the condition.
Paul Filinovich is the webmaster for http://yourhighbloodpressureremedies.com and is involved in the health and temperance division of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
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