What causes elevated blood pressure

Elevated blood pressure may be caused by genetic factors, high salt diet, obesity, mental stress, kidney disease, and other reasons. Elevated blood pressure is usually manifested as symptoms such as dizziness, headache, palpitations, etc. It is recommended to seek medical examination in a timely manner, clarify the cause, and follow medical advice for treatment.

1. Genetic factors

People with a history of hypertension in their family are more likely to experience elevated blood pressure. Genetic factors may lead to abnormalities in the angiotensin system or increased sodium sensitivity. This group of people needs regular monitoring of blood pressure, maintaining a low salt diet and regular exercise, which can help delay the occurrence of hypertension.

2. High salt diet

Long term intake of excessive sodium salt will lead to retention of water and sodium in the body, increase of blood volume, and thus increase of blood pressure. Daily salt intake should be controlled within 6 grams, avoiding high salt foods such as pickled and processed foods. Appropriately increasing potassium intake can help with sodium excretion, and potassium rich foods such as bananas and spinach can be chosen.

3. Obesity

Overweight can increase the burden on the heart and vascular resistance, and inflammatory factors secreted by adipose tissue can also affect vascular function. People with a body mass index exceeding 24 have a significantly increased risk of elevated blood pressure. By adopting a balanced diet and moderate exercise to lose weight, blood pressure can often be significantly improved.

4. Mental stress

Long term exposure to stress can activate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased heart rate and vasoconstriction. People with high work pressure and frequent emotional fluctuations are prone to temporary hypertension. It is recommended to relieve stress through meditation, deep breathing, and other methods to ensure adequate sleep. Kidney diseases such as glomerulonephritis and renal artery stenosis can affect water and sodium metabolism and the renin-angiotensin system, leading to secondary hypertension. These patients may have symptoms such as proteinuria and edema, and require comprehensive urine routine and renal function tests. While treating the primary disease, it may be necessary to use antihypertensive drugs to control blood pressure. Preventing elevated blood pressure requires attention to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a low salt and low-fat diet, weight control, regular exercise, smoking cessation and alcohol restriction. It is recommended to measure blood pressure 1-2 times a year for people over 40 years old, and for those with a family history of hypertension or overweight, the monitoring frequency can be appropriately increased. If blood pressure continues to rise, timely medical attention should be sought, and lifestyle interventions or medication treatment should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor to avoid long-term hypertension causing damage to target organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys.