What causes high blood pressure?
Well, high blood pressure is basically a disorder wherein the walls of arteries become too thick with plaque. As a result, these clogs cause pressure to be built up in the blood vessels that are leading to the heart, brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs. Thus, these clogs can be quite dangerous since it affects the entire functioning of your organs and can lead to various health issues.
To answer what causes high blood pressure, it is very crucial to first look at the exact causes. These are mostly hereditary factors, unhealthy lifestyle, stress, high cholesterol levels, poor diet, lack of exercise, and other lifestyle factors. Some of these are indeed the major causes of high blood pressure. If you have a family history of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney disease or even just poor health, then it is highly likely that you also carry high cholesterol and other risk factors. Thus, the way you live your life can greatly affect your overall health.
To answer what causes high blood pressure, one thing that can contribute to its onset is stress. People living in stressful environments often suffer from hypertension. Stress has many adverse effects on the human body, including lowering the HDL (good) cholesterol level, causing irregular heartbeat and muscle weakness, making people prone to diseases such as hypertension and heart attacks.
The best way to prevent hypertension is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The easiest way to maintain a healthy lifestyle is to avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and not doing other risky activities like eating processed foods and eating junk food. These unhealthy habits can be a major trigger for hypertension and will lead to more serious health issues, if left unchecked.
Another thing that causes high blood pressure is a sedentary lifestyle. We all know that physical activity keeps us fit and strong. However, this does not always mean that you have to run to the gym everyday, walk around your neighborhood every day, or engage in a vigorous physical activity.
A daily workout can also help strengthen your heart and improve your health. Also, a proper diet can significantly help in controlling high blood pressure.
An ideal healthy diet should include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products, as well as low-fat foods like poultry, turkey, fish, beans, eggs, lentils, and nuts. Other foods rich in calcium and vitamin D are also recommended. Foods rich in fiber such as green leafy vegetables and whole wheat bread are good choices.
There are many herbs and plants that can also help you control high blood pressure
Herbal teas like ginger and fennel are helpful. Other herbs that help lower high blood pressure are lavender and chamomile.
Low cholesterol is another good way to prevent hypertension. A low-fat diet is essential in reducing the amount of cholesterol in your bloodstream. Many of these foods can be found in foods that contain low cholesterol such as whole grain breads, oatmeal, fish, and low-fat cheese, along with low-fat yogurt and other dairy products. There are some other foods, however, that are bad choices because they can increase cholesterol levels.
One example is fats and oils that can be found in fast foods such as burgers, deep-fried fish, bacon, and fast food fries. Because these fats and oils are rich in saturated fats, they can raise cholesterol levels and may cause hypertension.
Reducing consumption of foods that are high in salt and sugar can also help in keeping your blood pressure under control, especially those that contain monosaturated fats. Examples of these are foods that contain vegetable oil, butter, coconut oil, margarine, and olive oil.
The best way to avoid hypertension and control your hypertension is to learn as much about the condition as possible. Try to avoid unhealthy habits like smoking, alcohol, and unhealthy behaviors, as well as taking good care of your body. A healthy lifestyle is the best way to live a healthy life and stay healthy.