Contents:
- Medical Video: High Blood Pressure | Hypertension | Nucleus Health
- What are the causes of primary hypertension?
- 1. High salt intake
- 2. Smoking and drinking alcohol
- 3. Obesity
- 4. Stress
- What are the causes of secondary hypertension?
Medical Video: High Blood Pressure | Hypertension | Nucleus Health
Hypertension is a condition when your blood pressure is above the normal limit, which is more than or equal to 140/90 mmHg. For those of you who experience it, you certainly want to know the causes of hypertension, right? Apparently, this depends on the type of hypertension, whether it includes primary hypertension or secondary hypertension. Come on, we peel one by one.
What are the causes of primary hypertension?
Most adults can get hypertension for years without a clear cause. This is called primary (essential) hypertension.
Although the cause is not yet certain, an unhealthy lifestyle is believed to be the cause of primary hypertension. These unhealthy lifestyles include:
1. High salt intake
Be careful, eating lots of salt can increase blood pressure, you know. Because the excess salt intake can attract fluid from the body while increasing the pressure in the blood vessels.
2. Smoking and drinking alcohol
Substances contained in cigarettes and alcohol can make blood vessels narrow. As a result, blood flow becomes blocked and triggers an increase in blood pressure.
3. Obesity
Being overweight or obese can suppress all body organs, including blood vessels. Because blood vessels are squashed, blood flow becomes blocked.
This condition makes the heart have to work hard to pump blood throughout the body. As a result, your blood pressure increases.
4. Stress
Stress is indeed one of the causes of general hypertension but is often ignored.
Quoted from LiveScience, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2003 revealed that people who feel stressed and overwhelmed with stress tend to have high blood pressure. (Want to be free from stress? Also read the unique way to relieve this stress)
What are the causes of secondary hypertension?
To find out the cause of your hypertension, try to look at your medical history again. The reason is, some real diseases can trigger high blood pressure.
This condition is called secondary hypertension. This type of hypertension generally appears suddenly and makes your blood pressure soar higher than primary hypertension.
The cause can be:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Kidney disorders
- Adrenal gland tumor
- Thyroid disease
- Congenital defects in blood vessels
- Certain medicines, such as birth control pills, fever medication, decongestants, over-the-counter painkillers, and some prescription drugs
- Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines
To determine the cause, immediately consult a doctor. Thus, you can avoid the risk of getting this disease in the future.