02/12/2025
✅ What is high blood pressure
• “Blood pressure” refers to the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood around your body. Heart Research Institute UK+2Mayo Clinic+2
• High blood pressure (also called Hypertension) means that this force is consistently higher than normal over time — so the arteries are under increased pressure over long periods.
• Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and given as two numbers: the systolic (pressure when the heart beats) and the diastolic (pressure when the heart rests between beats).
• According to widely used medical guidelines, blood pressure at or above 130/80 mm Hg is considered high.
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• High blood pressure often has no obvious symptoms, which is why many people may not realize they have it.
Because of this often silent nature, hypertension is sometimes called a “silent” — or hidden — condition even though it may silently harm arteries, the heart, kidneys, brain, and other organs.
🔎 What causes high blood pressure — major factors and risk contributors
Not always a single cause — often a combination of factors. Medical professionals typically divide causes into two broad categories: primary (essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension.
Primary (essential) hypertension
• This is the most common form, in which there is no single identifiable cause. Rather, high blood pressure develops gradually over many years due to a mix of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
• Over time, factors such as ageing and changes in blood vessels (less elasticity, stiffer arteries) can make hypertension more likely.
Secondary hypertension
In this type, there is an underlying condition or external cause that raises blood pressure.
Examples of triggers or underlying causes include:
• Kidney disease or problems affecting the kidneys or kidney arteries.
• Hormonal or endocrine disorders (e.g. thyroid problems, certain adrenal gland issues)
• Some birth control medications, certain pain relievers or cold medicines, and other prescribed or over-the-counter drugs — and in some cases, illicit drugs — can raise blood pressure.
• Sleep-related disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea can contribute to elevated blood pressure.
Risk factors and lifestyle contributors
Even when no clear disease or condition is present, several lifestyle and demographic factors make high blood pressure more likely:
• Being overweight or obese — excess body weight puts more strain on the heart and blood vessels.
• Eating a diet high in salt (sodium) and low in potassium. High salt intake causes the body to retain fluid, increasing pressure in the arteries.
• Lack of physical activity — a sedentary lifestyle weakens the heart and blood vessels, contributing to hypertension.
• To***co use — smoking or use of other to***co products raises blood pressure, injures blood vessels, and accelerates artery hardening.
• Excessive alcohol consumption — drinking heavily over time can raise blood pressure.
• Stress (chronic or repeated emotional/psychological stress) — stress can temporarily increase blood pressure and over time contribute to hypertension.
• Family history / genetics — having relatives with high blood pressure increases one’s own risk.
• Age — risk increases as people get older.
• Certain chronic conditions — like kidney disease, and other diseases affecting the heart or vessels — also raise the risk.