Various Causes of High Blood Pressure You Need to Know

Cases of hypertension throughout the world continue to increase from year to year, according to the report of the World Health Organization (WHO). This trend is also reflected in Indonesia. The latest data from the Ministry of Health's Riskesdas shows that cases of hypertension in the country increased from 25.8% in 2013 to 34.1% at the end of 2018. However, it does not mean that hypertension cannot be prevented. You can reduce your risk of developing this disease in the future by knowing the various causes of hypertension.
Different from primary and secondary hypertension

Someone is said to have high blood pressure if the test results show a tension higher than 140/90 mmHg.

There are two types of hypertension that are determined based on the cause, namely primary and secondary hypertension.

Causes of primary hypertension

Primary (essential) hypertension is a condition of high blood pressure that is not clearly a specific cause. As many as 95 percent of people who have high tension are included in this category. Most people who have hypertension of this type will not experience significant symptoms

Primary hypertension can be experienced by all ages, but most often occurs in middle age. Experts suspect that genetic factors are one of the main causes of primary hypertension. However, an unhealthy lifestyle can also increase the risk of hypertension. Among them:
1. Most eat salt
Salt is the main factor causing hypertension that comes from outside the body. Indeed, what is the relationship between salt and blood pressure?

Salt is not entirely evil. But if the portion is excessive, salt can cause a buildup of natural sodium in the body. This excess sodium will strengthen the work of the kidneys to get rid of the remaining waste liquid in the body. As a result, fluid retention occurs which can increase blood pressure in the vessels.

Eating too much salt too long will cause arterial walls to weaken. While at the same time causing plaque buildup in the artery walls. This weakened artery will become narrower, which makes blood pressure rise.

Salt intake does not only come from additional table salt or cooking salt. Salt or sodium can be found in other forms, for example in packaged foods, fast food, and so on. Therefore, most people who want to prevent or risk hypertension will be advised by doctors to limit their salt intake.

Research published in the 2002 Journal of Human Hypertension states that reducing the portion of salt (in any form) from 10 grams to 6 grams per day lowers the risk of high blood pressure. Reducing salt can also reduce the risk of death from stroke by up to 14% and a 9 percent risk of death from coronary heart disease from complications of hypertension.

Even though they have been affected and routinely take blood pressure-lowering drugs, people with hypertension also have to reduce their salt intake.

2. Stress

People say, prolonged stress can be a cause of hypertension. Apparently this assumption is not a myth.

Stress does make your blood pressure increase by 30-40% from its normal count. Because when stressed the brain releases the hormones cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine which can cause an increase in heart rate. These hormones also constrict the diameter of blood vessels.

The effect of increasing tension due to stress tends to occur temporarily. However, blood pressure that increases suddenly even if only briefly is still dangerous. Even as dangerous as chronic high blood pressure can cause damage to blood vessels, heart problems, and kidney disease.

Moreover, the stress that is allowed to continue can trigger changes in unhealthy lifestyles. Stress often makes you "crave" smoking, drinking, or even overeating. Well, in the end these things will contribute to the tension going up.

So if you feel stressed or anxious every day, you should start looking for healthy ways to vent tired to avoid the risk of hypertension.
3. Lazy motion
Lazy motion aka mager is a cause of hypertension that is often underestimated. The heartbeat of a mager person usually tends to be fast. This causes the heart to work extra hard to pump blood, which ultimately affects the increase in blood pressure.

So, don't reason anymore that you don't have time to exercise if you want to avoid hypertension. Starting sports is actually easy. No need to directly choose a heavy exercise, how come!

Start slowly with moderate exercise, which is important regularly every day. For example, walking, up and down stairs when on campus or office rather than riding an escalator or elevator. When traveling in the mall, don't just stay on the escalator. Climb the ladder as if you were up an ordinary ladder.

Physical activity or regular exercise have long been known to be effective for keeping blood pressure stable. In the end, regular exercise helps keep you from high blood pressure problems.

4. Obesity

Obesity and being overweight are closely related to high blood pressure. In fact, both of these are considered as the most common causes of hypertension.

You are classified as overweight if your body mass index is above 23. While you are classified as obese if your body mass index is above 25.

The heavier your body mass is, the more blood is needed to deliver oxygen and nutrients to all body tissues. This certainly requires the work of the heart that is harder than usual so that the blood pressure will eventually rise

5. Smoking

Smoking can cause hypertension. This is no longer surprising because the warning has been clearly stated on each pack of cigarettes.

Cigarettes have been shown to make blood pressure immediately increase sharply after the first suction. Especially the systolic blood pressure increases to as much as 4 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). This is because the nicotine content triggers the nervous system in the brain to constrict blood vessels while increasing blood pressure.

In the end, an increase in blood pressure due to smoking will cause long-term damage to the blood vessels. Active smokers who have high tension are at risk of developing various cardiovascular diseases related to complications of hypertension. Call it a stroke, heart disease, and a heart attack.

The risk of this complication is even higher when compared to people with chronic non-smoking hypertension. Therefore, let's stop smoking now!

6. Drink alcohol

Various studies have stated that the habit of drinking alcohol excessively in the long term can contribute to an increased risk of hypertension. If you have been diagnosed with high tension from the start, the habit of "drinking" can worsen symptoms.

Alcohol can constrict blood vessels if taken repeatedly in high doses. Over time, drinking excessive alcohol can cause damage to the kidneys and other vital organs that affect blood pressure.

In order for tension to remain within the normal range, consume reasonable alcohol. Reducing alcohol consumption is reported to help reduce systolic blood pressure by 3 mmHg.

Men and women who are healthy (not at risk and have no disease) are encouraged to consume no more than three units of alcohol per day. However, this limitation should not be interpreted as "can be drunk every day" or "may be drunk at once in one day".

The maximum limit allowed in a week is fourteen units of alcohol. Give a 2-3 day pause in which you don't consume alcohol at all

Causes of secondary hypertension

In some cases, other medical problems that have already attacked before may be the cause of high blood pressure. This condition is called secondary hypertension. Secondary hypertension can also be triggered by the use of certain drugs.

Secondary hypertension tends to appear suddenly and can cause blood pressure to surge higher than primary hypertension.

Here are some conditions and medications that can be the cause of secondary hypertension:

    Obstructive sleep apnea
    Kidney problems
    Adrenal gland tumor
    Thyroid problem
    Congenital defects in blood vessels
    Certain medications, such as birth control pills, flu, decongestants, pain relievers and some prescription drugs
    Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines
    Pregnancy
Factors that increase the risk of high blood pressure

The term "risk factor" itself is not really a direct cause of hypertension. Risk factors are habits, conditions, and similar things that can increase your risk of getting a disease. Well, therefore, the more risk factors for hypertension you have, the greater your chances of getting high blood pressure.

Risk factors for hypertension are divided into two, namely those that cannot be changed and can be changed. Some risk factors for hypertension that cannot be changed include:

    Age. As we get older, our blood vessels become stiffer, no longer elastic. As a result, blood pressure increases. Although high blood pressure is most common in adults, children are also at risk. The cause of hypertension in children is mostly due to problems with the kidneys or heart. However, some unhealthy lifestyle habits can also increase the risk of hypertension in children.
    History of hypertension in the family. If parents, siblings, or other family members have high blood pressure, you are more at risk of developing high blood pressure.

Gender. Until reaching the age of 64 years, men are more susceptible to high blood pressure than women. While at the age of 65 years and over, women who are more susceptible to high blood pressure.

While the risk factors for hypertension that can still be changed include:

     Obesity and being overweight
     Lack of movement
     Dietary habit
     Alcoholism
     Stressful
     Smoke
     Take certain drugs, such as NSAIDs, birth control pills, cold medicines, and so on.

Signs and symptoms of hypertension to watch out for

The only sure way to make sure you have high tension is to have a blood pressure test regularly.

But if you routinely check blood pressure, hypertension does not always cause symptoms or distinctive features. People with high blood pressure usually don't experience any symptoms. Nor does it show certain characteristics that appear invisible. Even you may never realize that blood pressure is high.

In general, some of the symptoms of hypertension that generally appear include:

    Severe headache
    Dizzy
    Blurred vision
    Feeling bad
    Looks confused
    Pain in the chest area
    Breathless
    Irregular heartbeat
    The sensation of pounding on the chest, neck or ears
    There is blood in the urine

If you are worried about the risk of hypertension and experiencing one or more of the symptoms above, immediately consult a doctor.
How to prevent hypertension?

Lifestyle changes are important steps to prevent a rise in blood pressure. Good if you have been diagnosed with hypertension, are still prehypertensive, or have normal blood pressure.

There are several healthy habits that can prevent high blood pressure. If done regularly, the following habits can also help reduce the risk of chronic complications due to high blood pressure.

Here are some healthy habits that can be done to help prevent hypertension:
1. Actively moving
Exercise and physical activity are key to maintaining your overall health. In fact, both are the most effective ways to prevent hypertension.

You do not have to exercise with high intensity. Mild physical activities such as walking, cleaning the house, up and down stairs, etc. have had a big influence on you.

The key is to make your body actively move.
2. Lower weight
Well, besides being active, reducing weight is also effective in preventing hypertension. Some effective exercise options for weight loss are exercise in the gym, jogging, riding a bicycle, swimming, or yoga.

Don't forget to balance it by applying a healthy diet so that your weight loss will be more optimal.
3. Stop smoking

Remember, smoking is the most common cause of high blood pressure. So, stop smoking for normal blood pressure. It's not easy, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.

Start slowly. For example, if you spend a day in a pack of cigarettes, try to reduce a few sticks. Reduce the number of cigarettes every day until you can stop smoking completely.

For those of you who don't smoke, stay away from cigarette smoke to prevent the health effects of being a passive smoker.

4. Eat more fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber, vitamins, and important minerals that can help lower blood pressure. Summarizing various studies, diligently eating fruit every day can prevent you from experiencing hypertension in the future.

Consume fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. A number of studies published in the Journal of Hypertension found that high fiber intake was associated with a significant decrease in blood pressure rates for people with hypertension.

5. Cook yourself at home
Instead of buying fast food, cooking at home helps reduce or even prevent high blood pressure. Because you can ensure for yourself that every food ingredient is of good quality and nutritious. You can measure the amount of salt yourself so it doesn't increase blood pressure.

Remember, food made at the factory is processed in such a way that the shelf life is long. The fiber will be taken, added various chemicals, and given salt, fat, and added sugar.

So, from now on, make it a habit to cook at home rather than buy outside. First try simple recipes that you like so that cooking shows are fun.

6. Always pay attention to food labels
Always remember that salt is the enemy of hypertension. So, as much as possible reduce various foods that are high in sodium and too salty from daily food. It's easy, really. You can read the nutritional information printed on the food label.

Without your realizing it, packaged foods tend to contain a lot of sodium. Even if food is labeled "healthy food" or "natural food". The American Heart Association notes that bread, packaged meat, and canned soup turns out to be quite high in sodium.

7. Manage stress

How to prevent hypertension is often underestimated. In fact, many people don't even know it. In fact, managing stress plays a role in stabilizing your blood pressure.

Severe stress will narrow the blood vessels. This is what contributes to the cause of high blood pressure, even if only temporarily. However, starting from stress a variety of unhealthy habits can be done. For example, eating mostly, staying up late, addicted to cigarettes, or drinking excessive alcoholic drinks.

Therefore, manage your stress as best you can. For example by exercising, vent to your closest friends, take a short vacation, or calm your mind with deep breathing techniques. In essence, avoid all things that cause high blood pressure as mentioned above. That way, your risk of getting this disease in the future will decrease.

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