What Causes High Blood Pressure And What Can I Do About It?
Posted by Carl Pruitt on April 12th, 2008 filed in High Blood Pressure SymptomsHigh blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension, is referred to often as a silent killer because significant damage has already been done to the patient’s body before any obvious symptoms show up. Many patients find out about their high blood pressure during a routine physical without having experienced any symptoms. Do not take high blood pressure lightly just because you don’t feel the symptoms. A large percentage of people who suffer heart attacks or congestive heart failure started out with symptom free high blood pressure. No factor is more closely associated with heart disease than high blood pressure. A third of the population will develop high blood pressure.
Your blood pressure will be checked as a standard preliminary procedure to any physical. Usually before you are even assigned to an examination room. Be aware of a condition known as White Coat Syndrome in which a person’s blood pressure actually increases dramatically as a direct response to visiting the doctor. I react just that way myself, often leading my doctors and their nurses to try to send me to the emergency room when they see my normally high blood pressure become extremely high blood pressure once the cuff is strapped on me in the doctor’s office. My solution to this was to buy a home digital blood pressure monitor. They are relatively cheap, and are very accurate. Don’t use it to replace the doctor though.
Although hypertension is a major causative factor in strokes and coronary heart disease, the sad truth is that 90% or more of cases have unknown or uncertain causes. For this reason, there is no simple answer to the question of what causes high blood pressure and there is no simple solution to the problem. The problem is best approached in a holistic fashion.
In a normal person blood pressure is kept within strict limits naturally. Low blood pressure results in arteries constricting to increase resistance and raise the blood pressure. When blood pressure goes too high, the body relaxes the arteries and veins to lower the pressure. People suffering from long term hypertension do not experience this normal pressure regulation and the disease must be treated with drugs, diet and major lifestyle changes.
Some of the factors medical authorities believe contribute to high blood pressure are:
* Excess consumption of alcohol
* Tobacco smoking
* Failure to maintain normal weight
* Excess sodium in the diet
* High stress levels
* Taking in too much caffeine
* Inherited tendencies
Obviously most of these factors are within our individual control. Therefore we can make great strides towards lowering blood pressure by natural means. Following a healthy diet with increased fruit and vegetable intake and lower fat intake, while at the same cutting out those bad habits we know are harmful to our health usually help to lower blood pressure. If you are overweight, losing a few pounds will make a tremendous difference. Action as simple as walking for 30 minutes, 3 times a week can have beneficial effects on your blood pressure. The DASH diet has been clinically proven to lower blood pressure. Of course, as with all things medical, please consult your doctor before starting any exercise program or drastically changing your diet.
About the Author:
Controlling hypertension is crucial to avoiding health problems during lby going toer years. Learn more about how to control hypertension by going to bloodpressuredanger.blogspot.com Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.


























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