Suffering From Hypertension? – 10 Culprits of Hypertension

Introduction – Suffering From Hypertension? – 10 Culprits of Hypertension

Hypertension is no joke, it is a deadly non-communicable disease that is slowly taking over the lives of many across the globe. In fact, according to the CDC,  blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of death for 516,955 people in the United States in 2019.

These numbers are staggering and because hypertension is a condition that develops over time, you may not notice the signs until it has progressed past the prevention stage. Considering the effect that this condition is having on the economy of each country, governments worldwide are calling on their citizens to become defensive. 

This means living a lifestyle that prevents the condition from developing or worsening. As such, we want to help you preserve your health and wellness, so, in this post, we will explore the top 10 risk factors that have been proven to be associated with the worsening of hypertension. 

If you understand the possible reasons for your hypertension diagnosis, then it will be easier for you to manage the condition appropriately. 

What is Hypertension?

Before we look at what causes the condition, let’s first get a better idea of what the condition is. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes hypertension (HTN), which is also known as high blood pressure or the silent killer as a medical condition that causes an individual’s blood vessels to have continually raised pressure. 

The blood vessels within your body take blood from the heart to the rest of your organs. As blood is pumped by the heart, the pressure is created by the force of blood pushing against the walls of a specific type of blood vessel. The higher the pressure, the harder the heart has to pump. 

The Top 10 Hypertension Culprits

There are so many reasons as to why you may have developed hypertension; however, some risk factors are more commonly determined to the actual cause than others. Below you will find a list of such possible causes. 

Of note, while some of these factors are modifiable, meaning, you can make changes to these to help slow the disease progression, there are others that you won’t be able to manipulate. 

Modifiable Risk Factors

Too much sodium

This is one of the most common causes of hypertension. Sodium chloride overconsumption will certainly put you at a higher risk for HTN. According to a scientific review, continuous high salt consumption may cause water retention, which induces a condition of high flow in the blood vessels. 

Foods that are processed, like sausages, sliced cheese, and fast food contain a lot of sodium. Consequently, you should aim to avoid eating these products too often. 

Excessive sodium consumption as defined by the WHO is less than 5 g sodium per day. Instead, opt for home-cooked meals or whole foods, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid using too much powdered seasoning, as well. It’s best to stick primarily to natural spices and always drink lots of water. 

Sedentary lifestyle

Being a ‘couch potato’ for even the shortest period does your body so much harm. It can lead to obesity and a number of other medical conditions, including high blood pressure. Inactivity, especially for a sustained period can lead to fatty material building up in your blood vessels and this means the heart will need to pump harder. 

A study published in 2014 by the Osteoarthritis Cartilage has confirmed this theory. For this reason, health professionals recommend doing at least 30 minutes of activity per day. The more active you are, the less fat will be stored in your body. Remember to speak to your doctor before starting any workout regime. 

Smoking

There are several ways that smoking can affect your body and cause increased blood pressure. The most common is the toxins within the cigarette damaging the lining of the blood vessels and causing them to become stiff. When this happens, they are unable to control and slow down blood flow. 

In a 2017 scientific report, researchers found that smoking for a life-course is undoubtedly associated with hypertension development and worsening. They, therefore, recommend that smokers quit smoking as soon as possible, regardless of the temporary side effects of quitting.

Chronic alcohol consumption

Chronic and excessive alcohol consumption is another prime suspect in the development and worsening of high blood pressure. When you drink a lot of alcohol for an extended period, similarly to smoking, it damages your blood vessels and organs as well. 

The chronic consumption of alcohol can significantly worsen already damaged blood vessels, thereby making your hypertension even more severe. Weaning yourself from alcohol may not be easy, so don’t hesitate to seek professional help. 

Obesity

Being overweight is one factor that can lead to the development of many disease conditions. This is because obesity comes with a lot of body fat and that fat tends to build up in places where it should not be, like the blood vessels and the heart. 

This unwanted fat buildup will then impede blood flow, causing the heart to pump harder and more force being exerted on the walls of the blood vessels. Consequently, there will be an increase in your blood pressure. 

To combat obesity, the CDC recommends lifestyle changes, such as making healthy food choices and regular physical activity. The standard is at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. Speak to your doctor before starting any workout regime. 

Stress

The experts say a little stress is good to keep you on your toes; however, high levels of stress, especially when prolonged, is quite unhealthy. Not only can it break down your immune system, but it may also increase your blood pressure directly and indirectly. 

Directly, stress can cause a surge of hormones that temporarily increase your blood pressure as it causes the heart to beat faster than normal and the blood vessels become narrow. Though this increase is usually temporary, repeated exposure will leave long-term effects. Indirectly, stress can cause you to develop unhealthy habits, like smoking, alcohol consumption, being sedentary, and overeating. 

Reduce stress by lowering your expectations, not putting too much on your plate, taking a break when you get overwhelmed, and speaking to a professional.

Non-modifiable Risk Factors 

Gender

You would be surprised to know that people who were born males are more likely to have hypertension than those who were born females. However, this is also dependent on age because, for an over 60 age group, females have a higher rate. But males lead in the under 50 age group. 

A CDC survey shows that in 2017–2018, the prevalence of hypertension was 45.4% among adults and was higher among men (51.0%) than women (39.7%). 

Age

As we age, the elasticity in our blood vessels tends to weaken. As such, they will have less control over the blood flowing through them and this is why the force on the vessel walls will be greater and cause a high blood pressure reading. The same CDC survey indicates the following hypertension rates:

22.4% (aged 18–39)

54.5% (40–59)

74.5% (60 and over)

Ethnicity (Race) 

Of a fact, some races have higher rates of hypertension diagnosis than others. For example, if you are an African and South Asian American, then you would be more at risk for hypertension than a Caucasian or Hispanic person. 

Genetics

Unfortunately, hypertension is something that runs in the family (genetic). This means that if your close relatives, like your mom, sister, uncle, father, brother, or aunt have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, then your chances of developing the condition will increase. 

Knowing your family’s medical history can play a significant role here, as it can help you understand the severity of your risk so you can take early measures to prevent the condition or slow its progress. 

Hypertension is a serious medical condition that affects millions of people across the globe. A number of factors can put you at risk for developing this condition and they can also worsen it. Some of these factors include age, gender, smoking, alcohol intake, and a sedentary lifestyle. 

It is your responsibility to make adjustments where you can to help reduce the severity of your condition. Remember, speak with your doctor to help you safely develop healthy lifestyle habits.  

Featured Image Credit: CDC (Unsplash)

References 

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