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This article will help you determine for yourself what causes high blood pressure.
You will find that answers along with reasons are more helpful and satisfying, when based on solid foundations, and will call on your own judgement, to make your mind over.
Comparing statistics of the diverse lifestyles that are found in different cultures around the world will help answer the question,” what causes high blood pressure?"
We don’t have to be left in the dark. Cultural habits can be measured for impact on health. Statistics vary from culture to culture as diet and lifestyles differ, but a pattern soon emerges when we compare and analyse results. So finding the answer to what causes high blood pressure should not present a problem.
For instance, in western cultures people lead fast paced lifestyles, and with it comes fast food, tinned and processed food, drinks with added sugar. Health institutes, doctors as well as the media are portraying this kind of lifestyle as being dangerous to our health and they are clearly making the statement that it is one of the major causes of high blood pressure, which if unchecked, can cause major artery and heart problems.
Their has been much focus in particular on the African American culture who are at high risk. See how serious this African American Family take high blood pressure .
But there is also other research out there to consider that paints a different picture. Who are we to believe? Probably you have noticed what confusion emerges when there is a change of opinion about a popular product which was thought to be good at one stage for ones health, but then surprised and alarmed we are told to cut down or even cut out that very product from our diets. A good example of this is the butter verses margarine war.
Didn’t we all start to question the integrity of those who assured us with convincing statements that these products were ok? So when considering what causes high blood pressure you will need to compare dependable data, controlled testing which has not been influenced in any way by ulterior motives.
I am going to discuss here some of the more popular reasons people think are the cause of High blood pressure. You will have the opportunity to delve a little deeper for more information on each subject.
Salt and Sugar
Is the hidden salt and sugar that we don’t see or take into account when planning our diet as serious as we are led to believe?
Too much salt (sodium) intake is said to be one of the leading contributors and causes of high blood pressure. A lower salt intake has shown to lower blood pressure. This is highly controversial as researchers differ in opinion, but there is no harm in trying it out to see if it works for you while monitoring your own blood pressure.
As for too much refined sugar, it is said that it contributes to obesity, causes heart disease, increases cholesterol, can increase systolic blood pressure, interferes with the function of 2 proteins which help the body to handle fat and cholesterol. These are just some of the long list of health risk factors that researchers claim can contribute to high blood pressure when excessive amounts of refined sugar is consumed.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are often connected. Insulin resistance seams to be the culprit. But what leads to this condition and why is Metabolic Syndrome X worth taking a look at?
For further information and treatments for Diabetes from a medical approach visit this Diabetes and Related Health Issues site on hypertension.
Exercise or the lack of it will also determine what causes high blood pressure in some and not in others, even when they seem to equal in dietary habits. A regular exercise routine has shown to increase HDL (good cholesterol) levels, and this doctors and researchers swear, removes LDL (bad cholesterol). This is the other type of cholesterol which doctors and health institutes say clogs the arteries and inhibits blood flow. There is, however, good reason to question what LDL really is and what function it has in the body. (See paragraph on cholesterol). In turn they say this causes the heart to pump harder, putting pressure on the walls of blood vessels. Blood vessels under pressure in older people can rupture, especially because with age comes a decrease in elasticity of veins and arteries, all combined factors of the disease known as atherosclerosis.
Research into the causes of atherosclerosis has opened up a Pandora`s box. It has been discovered that using chemicals in personal care products too, can greatly contribute to the disease leading to secondary hypertension.
Acidosis
Acidosis is another cause that merits our careful consideration. Really, it`s unlearning our bad eating habits that change along with lifestyle. It is a challenge, but one we need to address if we want to achieve wellness.
Chemicals in Cosmetics, personal care products and cleaning agents are also contributors to the last 2 conditions as well as other factors that cause hypertension. Something many of us are unaware of, but significant enough to have an impact on our health. What we put on the skin, finds it`s way in! Make-up like eye-liner and lipstick; hair dye and tooth fillings. Hmmmm???
What about stress and anxiety?
Some researchers find it hard to define what stress really is, so it is very controversial to say it’s one of the causes of high blood pressure. Yet it still intrigues others to continue researching into this possibility. Why? It will benefit us also to have a look at what results they have found. Adding to that, we know stress has many other negative effects on our health. That in itself should incite us to find solutions to combat it.
Graham MacGregor, professor in cardiovascular medicine at St George's Hospital, London, does not agree with other experts on what causes high blood pressure. Some experts ran an analysis on all the research linking stress with CVD and other heart related diseases. Professor MacGregor said: 'There is no evidence that stress leads to high blood pressure or to heart disease. As chairman of the Blood Pressure Association, he agrees that stress may trigger a heart attack in people already suffering severe heart disease, but doesn’t believe that any research so far has conclusively proven a connection between stress and developing heart problems.
Contrary to this though, there seems to be growing evidence that supports a connection between certain kinds of stress and heart problems. Also when people suffer stress they may hide it behind excessive alcohol or food consumption, both of which are contributors of high blood pressure.
Other, not so familiar claims of what causes high blood pressure are: high noise levels, caffeine, ibuprofen, and menopause. You may have heard of these but there is some scientific data available that can help us determine the facts.
What about smoking?
Smokers who are habitually stressed usually smoke more developing a higher dependency on nicotine to "calm their nerves", so to speak. Whereas others who smoke heavily even when they don’t suffer stress, enter the same danger zone.
Noise Pollution The Constitutional Court in Spain recognised the harmful effect of noise pollution. In a court hearing, they ruled against a public place of entertainment. According to the court, high blood pressure was one of the results of serious noise pollution. Now in 2008 there is more tangible evidence that points to noise pollution being a serious factor in raising blood pressure.
...and while we are on the subject of pollution, consider Air Pollution! It has been proven that diesel exhaust has a impact on the function of blood vessels.
Ibuprofen, a common pain killer, as well as other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as naproxen and nabumetone, have strong evidence supporting their negative impact on the user’s health. In 2003 an article revealed the results of a study on the use of NSAIDs and acetaminophen. The study showed that they were significantly associated with an increased risk of hypertension (high blood pressure).
Menopause What causes high blood pressure in connection with menopause? This is even less familiar than the two mentioned directly above. It is reported that after menopause, women face an increased risk of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. Another noted factor is the effect that the removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) has on the production of chemicals it secretes. It is revealed that these chemicals help to regulate blood pressure, so after a hysterectomy women are prone to high blood pressure. ("The Ultimate Rape," author Elizabeth L. Plourde, C.L.S., M.A.)
I hope this article has addressed your concerns as to what causes high blood pressure. I recommend reading The High Blood Pressure Hoax which discusses many causes. It will help you identify your own particular root cause and help you see which natural course you can take to help reduce your blood pressure.
Following updates will add more to this bank of information, so you are invited to return to view this page on what causes high blood pressure periodically.
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