While most people know that high blood pressure is dangerous, many are unaware of what causes this problem. Normally, the heart pumps blood throughout the body. Blood pressure is the measure of how much blood is pushed against the blood vessel walls. If someone has hypertension, it means that the heart is working harder to push blood through the body. Left untreated, this can lead to strokes, heart failure, hardening of the arteries and kidney disease.<\/p>\n
The human body is meant to be at a normal weight. When someone gains too much weight, it causes there to be too much resistance in the blood vessels. As a result, the heart is forced to work harder to move blood throughout the body. Being overweight<\/a> or obese is a key risk factor for hypertension. Luckily, this cause is easily remedied by losing weight and adopting a healthy lifestyle.<\/p>\n Normally, sodium and other electrolytes operate in a careful balance in the body. When someone consumes too much sodium or has a sodium sensitivity, this balance is broken. Eating too much salt increases the amount of sodium in the bloodstream. This means that the kidneys are unable to remove water from the body like they should. As a result, the blood pressure goes up. The blood vessels that lead to the kidneys are also put under an extra, unhealthy strain.<\/p>\n Drinking too much alcohol can hurt the kidneys and liver. It can also cause high blood pressure. When someone drinks too much or too frequently, it increases the blood pressure and the individual’s risk of heart failure. It also contributes to obesity, which is another cause of hypertension. As a rule, men should drink less than two drinks per day. Women should stick to less than a drink a day.<\/p>\n2. High Sodium Intake<\/h3>\n
3. Alcohol Consumption<\/h3>\n