Causes of High Blood Pressure

Let us briefly discuss the concept of blood pressure before we discuss what exactly high blood pressure is. The pressure exerted by the blood on the arteries when it is pumped throughout the body by the heart, is called blood pressure. Arteries are blood vessels which carry the blood throughout the body.

The blood pressure is measures as a combination of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is defined as 120/80 mm/hg or millimeters of mercury. The 120 stands for systolic pressure, whereas the 80 stands for diastolic pressure. If the blood pressure of an individual goes significantly above the normal, the individual is said to be suffering from high blood pressure.

There is no single cause of high blood pressure. An unhealthy lifestyle contributes to raising your blood pressure more than anything else. Being overweight and eating foods that have a high level of cholesterol results I the constriction of the arteries. As a result the heart ahs to encounter more resistance when it pumps blood. This increases the blood pressure.

Moreover as you grow old you become more prone to high blood pressure. The condition of high blood pressure or hypertension usually affects an individual after the age of 40. A genetic predisposition may also be one the causes for hypertension.

Certain people such as those that are of Asian or African descent are known to be susceptible to blood pressure problems.

Apart from the life style or the genetic make up some specific conditions that causes high blood pressure are; certain medication such as those used for common cold, appetite suppression, arteriosclerosis, birth control, diabetes, or migraine may result in hypertension.

If you are above the age of 40, or are otherwise susceptible to high blood pressure you should visit your general practitioner and have your blood pressure measured. In case you are suffering from high blood pressure you should take preventive measures and medication as prescribed by the doctor.