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Search and rate treatments to help others like you. Find out More...What Causes Hypertension?
There are a number of causes of hypertension, some over which you have no control and others over which you do have control.
Uncontrollable factors include:- age
- family history
- diseases such as kidney disease, Cushing syndrome, diabetes
- pregnancy
- pain
- anxiety and stress
- Arteriosclerosis- hardening of the arteries, plaque build up in the arteries
Though listed as uncontrollable, many of these factors (i.e. anxiety, stress, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, kidney disease, and pain) can often be dramatically improved through healthy lifestyle choices.
Controllable factors include:- weight
- high salt intake
- smoking
- consumption of large quantities of alcohol
- illicit drug use such as cocaine
- Medications such as: Birth control pills, cold medicines, appetite suppressants, migraine medications
- Diet high in saturated fat
Other factors, such as defects in the peripheral auto regulation system, disturbance in sodium and calcium blood levels, imbalance of hormones and malfunctions in artery contraction and relaxation mechanisms are all possible causes for high blood pressure that need further study.