Blood pressure refers to the force with which blood moves through your body, and your blood pressure levels should stay within a normal range. When they don’t because the force of the blood moving through your body is too strong for too long, you have a condition called high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. This is a relatively common health problem, affecting as many as 1 in 3 Americans.
Having high blood pressure increases a person’s risk for health problems like heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, and kidney failure. There is much you can do to keep your blood pressure within a normal range and avoid these risks.
High Blood Pressure Risk Factors
Many factors cause a person to be at higher risk of developing high blood pressure. These include:
- Age
- Race (high blood pressure is more common in African Americans)
- Being overweight
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Excessive in the diet
- Stress
- Drugs or excessive alcohol
- Smoking
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Diabetes
- Kidney problems
- Adrenal gland tumors
- Thyroid problems
- Congenital blood defects
- Chronic vitamin D and/or potassium deficiency over time
Blood Pressure Medications: Not Always the Answer!
- Although medications exist that are designed to keep blood pressure in the normal range, they are not without risk.
- Taking the type of blood pressure medications called calcium channel blockers can increase the possibility of a person getting cancer, especially as a person gets older.
- Other than taking medication for high blood pressure, there are many lifestyle changes you can make and natural things you can do that can help.
