What Are the Main Causes of Hypertension?

What Are the Main Causes of Hypertension?

Forty-six percent of adults with hypertension are unaware they are walking around with it. This disease should be taken seriously as the risks of living with undiagnosed high blood pressure are detrimental to one’s health. With this condition, your heart works under stress as it attempts to circulate blood throughout the body. Every system is strained as the heart requires more energy to complete its essential function. Our experts are here to support, teach and guide you to live a full and happy life. 

What Is Hypertension? 

Blood pressure is an important indicator of your overall health. When your blood pressure rises for an extended period of time and does not decrease, it is a crucial sign of this disorder. It is a severe medical condition that requires care and, if left untreated, will lead to heart, brain, kidney, and other diseases. Blood pressure is relative to the force the heart exerts as it pumps blood throughout the body. When it requires excessive squeeze from the heart, it means the pressure it takes to pump blood through your circulatory system rises. 

How Do I Know if I Have High Blood Pressure?

You may be at risk if you eat a poor diet, lack exercise, consume tobacco, alcohol, or are overweight. This disorder is known as the “silent killer” because it doesn’t have symptoms unless it’s severe. Signs to look out for include: 

  • Intense Headaches 
  • Nosebleeds
  • Confusion 
  • Fatigue
  • Vision Issues
  • Chest Pain 
  • Difficulty Breathing 
  • Irregular Heartbeat
  • Blood in Urine
  • Pounding in Your Chest, Neck, or Ears 

One of these symptoms alone may not be a cause for alarm, but multiple or persistent symptoms might mean it is time to see a doctor. 

Main Types and  Causes  

The two types of hypertension are primary and secondary. Primary hypertension develops gradually over many years due to lifestyle habits. Secondary hypertension is caused by an underlying condition. It can appear suddenly and spike pressure more quickly and higher than primary hypertension. Several conditions and medicines can lead to secondary hypertension. 

These include: 

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  • Kidney Disease
  • Thyroid Issues
  • Adrenal Gland Tumors
  • Congenital Disabilities 
  • Birth Control Pills, Decongestants, Over-the-counter Pain Relievers, and some Prescriptions
  • Illegal drugs 

Measuring your blood pressure on a regular basis or at least every other year is critical for the detection of this disorder. It is a manageable condition when given proper attention. 

Ways to Recover and Control Blood Pressure

Functional medicine is a whole body and lifestyle approach to caring for many ailments. At Today’s Integrative Health, we focus on finding the root cause of disease and customizing care based on what your body needs. We place a high value on patient–practitioner relationships and want to ensure your healing journey is as smooth as possible. 

To help lower your high blood pressure, it would be beneficial to exercise regularly, eat foods with less salt or don’t add salt to your meals, add more potassium to your diet, limit alcohol consumption and find ways to relieve and reduce stressors in your life.  

Recovery and control take time, self discipline and effort from you. It may seem difficult to tackle this obstacle, but it is possible. Once diagnosed, you must monitor yourself closely until you are back in a comfortable range. 

Get in Touch

If you are ready to start your journey with a patient-centered practice, set up a consultation with  Dr. Leo at Today’s Integrative Health, located at 6321 Executive Blvd, Rockville, MD 20852, in the Executive office park. or call today on (301) 770-6650. Your heart health is worth paying attention to. You need it to survive! 

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Dr. L. J. Leo

Dr. L. J. Leo

Dr. Leo began his education at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia, where he earned his doctorate in osteopathy. He completed his internal medicine residency through the U.S. Army and had the honor of serving multiple overseas tours before retirement.

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