What are the causes and solutions for high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is a very serious medical condition that is linked to many of fatal complications, such as heart attack, kidney failure, and stroke. So, what are the causes for high blood pressure? Well, there are many common causes of high blood pressure, but the good news is high blood pressure is treatable. Causes for high blood pressure are also easy to understand and most are preventable.

An optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is defined as either a systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mmHg. According to many medical experts, one of the most common causes for high blood pressure among Americans is taking in too much salt. It is estimated that we consume 10 to 15 times more salt than we need. There is no good reason for this since most foods already contain salt. Although salt is only one of the many high blood pressure causes for certain salt sensitive people, it can't hurt to decrease your salt consumption, and may even help prevent your risk of heart attack.

Even more common among causes for high blood pressure is obesity. Obesity causes hypertension because it puts a strain on your circulatory system. This means that your heart has to work harder to pump blood, resulting in higher pressure in your veins and arteries. Along with obesity, another one of the causes for high blood pressure is the lack of exercise. This allows your heart to atrophy, so it must pump harder to circulate your blood. By using exercise to lose weight, you can treat both of these high blood pressure causes at once.

Many causes for high blood pressure are not so easily treatable. For example, it appears that there is a genetic component, making some people simply more prone to what is considered high blood pressure symptoms. Along with this, there is a process called arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which occurs with age. Diabetes is another one of the not so easily treated causes for high blood pressure that can be controlled through diet and exercise.

In spite of all of these causes for high blood pressure, the fact remains that you can reduce your chance of high blood pressure through seeing a doctor, getting regular checkups, exercising, and eating right. Common high blood pressure symptoms to watch for are frequent headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, or blurred vision. See your doctor on a regular basis to detect symptoms that are considered high blood pressure related. Causes for high blood pressure can be controlled or eliminated with a good plan and healthy lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
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All of these questions and more are answered here on our page about the causes for high blood pressure.