Causes of Hypertension

Smoking
The nicotine present in tobacco product will decreases the oxygen to the heart, increase heart rate and blood pressure, and damage to cells that line coronary arteries. We do know that cigarette smoking associate with breathing problems and lung cancer, but people who smoke are also more also likely to develop hypertension and heart disease. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day have double the risk of heart attack than non-smokers.

Obesity
The blood pressure rises as body weight increases. Body mass index (BMI) is utilized to define the degree of obesity. In general, a BMI of 25-30 kg/m2 is considered overweight, in which risk of high blood pressure is high. Based on the research studied, obese people are 2~6 times more likely to develop hypertension than people with healthy weight range. Except the degree of obesity, the manner in which the body accumulates extra fat is also an important factor of high blood pressure. People gain weights around their belly tend to have greater risks for hypertension than people store fat around their hips and thighs.

Lack of exercise
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main factor of the development of obesity and hypertension. There is evidence to suggest that inactive individuals have a greater risk of developing hypertension.

Poor diet
Poor diet containing harmful fats that promotes peripheral resistance during blood circulation and induce the high blood pressure. Besides, high-salt intake also increases the blood pressure of people whom sensitive to the sodium (salt). From statistically studied, Americans consume 10-15 times more sodium than they need. If the salt intake is higher than the capable level of kidney can control of, the salt ends up in the bloodstream. Since salt attracts water, the salt will draws more water into the blood which eventually increases the volume of blood and results in high blood pressure.

Drinking too much alcohol
Drinking more than one to two drinks of alcohol per day tends to raise blood pressure in those who are sensitive to alcohol. The relation between alcohol and hypertension was established in a 1979 study of alcoholics. From the studied, half of the alcoholics had high blood pressure. As alcohol enters and accumulates in the bloodstream, it interferes with the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the heart. Whenever the heart has to pump harder to supply nutrient-rich blood throughout body, it raises the blood pressure.

Aging
The older person is more likely for develop of high blood pressure such as elevated systolic readings due to the arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

Family history of high blood pressure
High blood pressure tends to run in families for many reasons. Blood relatives tend to have many of the same genes that can predispose a person to high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke. Genes are units of heredity that are passed from parents to children. Relatives may also share some of the same habits such as diet, exercise, and smoking that can affect risk.

Race
Compared to other groups, African Americans develop high blood pressure earlier in life with higher death rate from stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure.

Having high cholesterol
High cholesterol accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis, a process that is thought to contribute significantly to hypertension.
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