What Causes High Blood Pressure?
Posted by: bloodpressuremonitorsaleIn the majority of patients with high blood pressure, the cause is unknown. In fact, a person can have the condition for many years and never even know it. It is this particular characteristic that gives high blood pressure, referred to as primary or essential hypertension when the cause is unknown, the name “silent killer.” Many people never know that they are hypertensive until it is too late. These patients rarely show any known high risk symptoms, the condition just creeps up and sets in.
Secondary hypertension, high blood pressure that has known causes, is only present in about 5% to 10% of hypertensive patients. However, the risk factors associated with this type of hypertension include:
• The narrowing of specific arteries
• Structural abnormalities of the heart – specifically the aorta (this is a type of birth defect)
• Abnormalities in the kidneys
Fortunately, these problems are usually correctable. Some require surgery, such as repairing a narrowed artery. There are also medical tests available that can bring them to light so that the patient and doctor can begin a treatment or preventative regimen to combat the condition.
Because high blood pressure is caused by defects to problems in the body, it generally does not develop overnight. In order to understand how blood pressure develops, it is necessary to know how the heart works.
Blood is pumped through the body via arteries that run throughout the body. These arteries taper into arterioles, which are smaller arteries. From there, the arterioles taper into capillaries, which are even smaller blood vessels. These capillaries supply nutrients and oxygen to all of the organs within the body. Once it makes its circuit through the body, the blood is then returned to the heart.
Naturally, the wider the vessels, the easier it is for blood to flow through them. Likewise, the smaller they are, the more difficult it is for the blood to flow. There are certain nerve impulses that cause the vessels to dilate or become larger which allows for easy blood flow. Other nerve impulses, however, cause the vessels to dilate, meaning that they become smaller. The result is more difficult blood flow.
When the vessels contract, or some other condition makes it difficult for the blood to be carried through the body, there is a chain reaction that occurs. The blood has a difficult time flowing through the vessels. Because of this, pressure inside the vessels builds. This results in high blood pressure. The heart must work harder to pump the blood through the compromised vessels and it can become strained and even damaged. Blood vessels can become damaged as well. What’s more, if the vessels that carry blood to the kidneys and brain are damaged, those organs can be damaged as well.
Untreated high blood pressure can place a person at high risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney failure. The condition can be managed and in some cases reversed. Diet modification and exercise, usually resulting in weight loss, is a common method that doctors use to help patients manage their hypertension. If the condition is not brought under control with a proper diet, then medication may be prescribed. Surgery is usually a last resort option.
