What are the Causes of High Blood Pressure

Hypertension, also commonly known as high blood pressure, is the amount of force applied against the walls of the arteries as blood flows through them. High blood pressure means that the walls of the arteries are receiving too much pressure repeatedly. The pressure needs to be periodically high over time duration for a diagnosis of hypertension to be confirmed. 

According to one data of National Heart & Blood Institute (United States) in America itself, there are more than 75 million people currently suffering from High Blood Pressure, i.e. about one in every third adult alive. The National Health Service (United kingdom) states that about 40% of all the British adults have Hypertension.

Diseases like heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, etc. happen due to "problems related to blood pressure".

Here’s the video explaining what hypertension is and how it affects the body.

	High blood pressure affects nearly everyone and typically, it develops in phases over many years.  The good news is that unlike other disease like Cancer or Aids, Hypertension is detected easily. And once you know that you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.  There are many medicines available in market to Control High Blood Pressure.

But along with medicines one is advised to follow the following things to control your Hypertension.

Steps to Reduce Hypertension

Step 1: Eat Less Sodium & Salty Food

Consume less sodium, which contributes to hypertension. It's not enough to just put away the saltshaker, check food labels as well. Many prepared foods, like canned soup and frozen meals, are loaded with sodium.

Step 2: Eat Potassium-Rich Foods

Eat more baked potatoes, with the skin, plus other potassium-rich foods like acorn squash, bananas, orange juice and halibut. Dozens of studies prove that a potassium-rich diet helps combat the blood pressure-raising damage caused by a high sodium diet.

Step 3: Drink Red Wine

Drink one glass of red wine every day, but limit yourself to just one glass.

Step 4: Lose Weight

Lose weight if you need to. Obesity has been linked to hypertension. Track your steps with a pedometer. People, who use them walk up to 2,000 steps or more, can reduce their weight and thus their blood pressure.

Step 5: Get a Pet

Get a pet. Not only does having one lower blood pressure, petting them has been shown to increase levels of the feel-good hormones dopamine and serotonin in their owners.

Step 6: Eat Chocolate

Eat some chocolate every day. The trick is to keep the portion small, say, bite-size, and make sure you're munching dark chocolate made mostly from cocoa solids. It should taste a little bitter.

Step 7: Become a Hugger

You should become more touchy-freely. Research indicates that people who hug and hold hands are calmer.

Step 8: Start Praying

Start praying. One study found that people who attend weekly religious services have lower blood pressure than those who don't attend any at all.

Did You Know?

By 2025, 1.6 billion people worldwide are expected to have high blood pressure.