Health: What Causes Hypertension?

Health: What Causes Hypertension?

This is the third of five posts looking at blood pressure.  These will be posted daily, and will conclude with an article on why leading a paleolithic lifestyle can contribute to maintaining a healthy blood presure.

You can view the previous articles here:

1. What is blood pressure?

2. Why is high blood pressure (hypertension) important?

What Causes Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)?

Over 90% of people with high blood pressure have what is called essential or primary hypertension.  In those cases the medical profession don't know the exact root cause.  One known fact is that blood vessels become less elastic as we age, so high blood pressure becomes increasingly common in older people. 

Other interesting facts.  High blood pressure is more common in people: 

• with diabetes.  About 30% of people with Type 1 diabetes and more than half of those with Type 2 diabetes develop high blood pressure.
• those of African or Afro-Caribbean descent;
• those from the Indian sub-continent;
• those with a family history of high blood pressure

Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure that can be tracked to a particular disease or medication.

What about lifestyle factors?

The following risk factors all increase the likelihood of high blood pressure.

• those who are overweight/obese;
• consume too much salt;
• don't eat many fruit or vegetables;
• avoid exercise;
• drink a lot of coffee (or caffeine-rich drinks);
• smoke;
• or drink a lot of alchohol.

Upcoming blog posts: 

4. What can we do to maintain a healthy blood pressure?

5. Will a Paleolithic lifestyle help to lower hypertension?