3 Causes of High Blood Pressure

The causes of high blood pressure are not always easy to identify since there are many different elements that contribute to it and it's not always possible to distinguish the cause. You'll want to get diagnosed early to avoid other complications. Making some lifestyle changes to avoid hypertension can only be done once you know the causes of high blood pressure.

While you can develop hypertension at any age, it's more likely as you get older. On average, men are more likely to develop it at an earlier age, while it often begins in menopause with women.

Unfortunately, however, as obesity increases in younger people, we are now seeing high blood pressure develop at earlier ages lately. So everyone should have their blood pressure measured regularly, but it's especially important if you are forty or above. Many other factors can influence your blood pressure as well, such as your eating habits and how often you exercise.

Even experts don't agree about the exact causes of high blood pressure, and very often the cause can't be identified. When doctors cannot find a definite cause of high blood pressure, which is actually most of the time, they call it essential hypertension.

Still, even if an exact cause isn't found, it is known that many things, such as smoking, your diet and how old you are can put you at risk for hypertension. If you want to know if you have high blood pressure, the only way is to have it checked by a medical professional. Researchers are still trying to figure out exactly what causes high blood pressure, but meanwhile you can still take actions to lower your risks of hypertension or control it once it's been diagnosed.

High blood pressure is often associated with high cholesterol, and both of these can lead to heart disease and other serious health problems. If you limit the "bad" cholesterol in your diet, and have healthy amounts of "good" cholesterol, you can bring your overall cholesterol to a healthy level. LDL is the harmful type of cholesterol, and this causes blockages in the arteries which is bad for the heart.

Good cholesterol, or HDL, does the opposite and helps to clear your arteries. The healthy type of fats, which are found in oils such as olive, coconut and many fish oils can help to improve your cholesterol levels, along with getting enough exercise. Unhealthy fats such as trans fats, junk food and a sedentary lifestyle all contribute to bad cholesterol in your body. Your cholesterol levels and your blood pressure are often related, and controlling both of these are essential.

In summary, there are many causes of high blood pressure, and if you have this condition your doctor can help you figure out why you may have developed it. When you identify the cause of your high blood pressure, it can help you know what changes you can make to help control it. Some of the causes of high blood pressure mentioned above may apply to you, but there are many others as well, so you have to consider your own lifestyle and medical history.