Friday, April 1, 2011

Finding Causes of High Blood Pressure And Treating Them

By Andrew Hoffmann


In many cases, high blood pressure (or hypertension) is something people live with for a long time before it's finally diagnosed. You may not have any early symptoms, so make sure you get your blood pressure taken on a regular basis. If you are aware of the causes of high blood pressure it's easier to avoid it, so we will now explore some of these.

High blood pressure is common in pregnant women but it is usually severe although it does sometimes need to be treated with medication. A sudden rise in blood pressure to extreme levels during pregnancy, called preeclampsia, can be dangerous for both mother and baby. Women who have high blood pressure before becoming pregnant are at a greater risk for this but it can still happen in women with no history of hypertension. This is why it's important for pregnant women to monitor their blood pressure.

If you have certain long term illnesses, they can raise your risk of developing high blood pressure. Kidney disease, especially in older people, is a common cause of high blood pressure. You can develop high blood pressure if you have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes as both of them damage the kidneys. If kidney disease or diabetes run in your family, than you are at a greater risk for developing these conditions. If you have been diagnosed with either diabetes or any kind of kidney disease, your doctor should be keeping track of your blood pressure and may prescribe medication to manage it.

High blood pressure can be caused by taking certain medicines or drugs. It's known that many illegal drugs, especially stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines raise your blood pressure. High blood pressure can also be caused by taking prescription drugs, including many antidepressants and birth control pills. drugs can also cause hypertension, especially when taken regularly. That's why it's important to read the warning labels on all medication, especially if you have other risk factors for hypertension. Always ask your doctor if any medication he or she has prescribed may cause high blood pressure.

The beneficial kind of cholesterol is HDL, and this does the opposite of LDL, and can help lower your blood pressure. The healthy type of fats, which are found in oils such as olive, coconut and many fish oils can help to improve your cholesterol levels, along with getting enough exercise. Avoiding unhealthy foods, such as hydrogenated oils, processed foods and most fast foods can help you to reduce the bad cholesterol in your diet. Your cholesterol levels and your blood pressure are often related, and controlling both of these are essential. These are only a few of the causes to be aware of for hypertension. Get regular checkups if you have a family history or any of the above risk factors for high blood pressure.




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