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What Causes High Blood Pressure?

 

The cause of high blood pressure can be broadly classified into two categories:

Primary Hypertension: In this type of hypertension, there is no known cause of high blood pressure. It is the leading cause of high blood pressure in 95% of admitted cases. It tends to gradually develop over the years, and it is greatly influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. These factors include:

Secondary hypertension:  High blood pressure is caused by an underlying condition. It tends to appear suddenly and is more severe than primary hypertension. Various conditions can lead to secondary hypertension, including

How to Lower Your Pressure Naturally

 

A critical step in preventing and lowering blood pressure is through lifestyle modification. This is always the first line recommendation for people with primary or essential hypertension. The advantages of lifestyle modification include a significant drug cost reduction, a beneficial effect on other medical drug treatment with its potential for adverse effects

Recommended lifestyle changes to naturally lower blood pressure include:

When to Start Medication

 

If your blood pressure rises into the range of hypertension, your doctor may start you on one or combination of anti-hypertensive drugs. People with prehypertension do not require medication unless they have other co-morbid conditions such as diabetes, coronary artery disease or chronic kidney disease.

These are some of the most common drugs used to treat hypertension

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These medications such as lisinopril (Zestril), benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten) and others help relax blood vessels by inhibiting the formation of a natural hormone called angiotensin ii. This hormone narrows blood vessels, and increases blood flow, leading to increases in blood pressure People with chronic kidney disease may benefit from having an ACE inhibitor as one of their medications. ACE inhibitors should not be in pregnant women as it can lead to organ malformation in the fetus. It is also not recommended for people with a history of heart disease.

Common side effects associated with ACE inhibitors include dizziness, fatigue, weakness, headaches, persistent and irritating dry cough. Some patients that may find the side effects too unbearable. In such cases, your doctor will switch your medication to another class known as angiotensin-2 receptor blocker.

Thiazide is very effective in lowering blood pressure even when used alone. If you’re taking a thiazide diuretic and your blood pressure remains high, talk to your doctor about adding one or replacing a drug you currently take with a diuretic. Diuretics or calcium channel blockers may work better for people of African heritage and older people than do angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors alone. A common side effect of diuretics is increased urination.

Patients with a history of heart disease, liver disease, or problems with circulation should not take calcium channel blockers. Grapefruit should not be taken with calcium channel blockers as it interacts with it, leading to increased blood levels of the drug

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References

Falkner, B., Michel, S., & Kushner, H. (1999). Multiple Dietary Nutrients and Blood Pressure in Urban Adolescents at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease. Pediatric Research45(4, Part 2 of 2), 3A-3A. doi: 10.1203/00006450-199904020-00028

Stamler, J. (1991). Blood pressure and high blood pressure. Aspects of risk. Hypertension18(3_Suppl), I95-I95. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.18.3_suppl.i95

Uncontrolled factors of blood pressure in essential hypertension: from“patient’s high blood pressure”to“hypertensive patient”. (2014). China Journal Of Chinese Materia Medica. doi: 10.4268/cjcmm20140736

Volpe, M. (2005). Application of Hypertension Guidelines in Clinical Practice. High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention12(3), 193???194. doi: 10.2165/00151642-200512030-00173