Blood Pressure Causes

What Causes Abnormal Blood Pressure?

This article is intended to provide basic information on blood pressure causes - especially unhealthy blood pressure causes that can cause problems with your circulatory system in particlar and your health in general. Blood pressue causes a variety of disorders and conditions in the human body. Some are life threatening.

Your doctor is your best source of information about blood pressure cause and the consequences of abnormal blood pressure. Blood pressure is often simply called BP. The terms will be used interchangeably in this article.

When most people hear the words abnormal blood pressure or unhealthy blood pressure, they tend to think of hypertension, which means that BP is higher than normal. But low blood pressure causes risks to your health as well. More on low blood pressure causes in a moment.

High blood pressure causes and symptoms The exact causes of abnormally high blood pressure (known as hypertension) are something of a mystery. But hypertension, usually occurs when artery walls thicken and blood has less room to circulate through them. As a result, the heart has to work harder to push blood through those arteries.

High cholesterol levels in the blood, which often result from eating certain foods, are among the most prominent unhealthy blood pressure causes. Certain types of fatty substances in cholesterol stick to the artery walls. As the walls grow more narrow, the heart has to work harder to push blood through them. As a result, the pressure against the walls of the arteries increases.

Family history seems to play a role in determining who gets hypertension. But lifestyle choices matter too.

Poor diet and nutrition Certain foods are likely to cause a higher, unhealthy blood pressure level. Fatty foods that contain a lot of low density lipoproteins (also known as LDL or "bad" cholesterol) are a major contributor to hypertension. LDL cholesterol collects along artery walls and can even block arteries to the point where effective blood circulation is compromised. Foods that come from animal sources are generally higher in cholesterol than vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains. See low blood pressure foods and high blood pressure diet plan.

Obesity and lack of exercise These unhealthy blood pressure causes tend to go hand-in-hand. Someone who exercises regularly will force more rapid blood circulation, which not only strengthens the heart but helps flush fatty substances from the arteries. An obese person will have more fat circulating in their blood, and therefore, more fatty substances are likely to clog up the circulatory system, causing high BP.

Alcohol Use Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will almost certainly contribute to hypertension. Most alcoholic beverages also contain a lot of calories, which can put on extra pounds. See our article on blood pressure and alcohol,

Kidney problems or kidney disease can also trigger hypertension. Over time, high BP tends to damage blood vessels throughout the circulatory system. When such damage occurs in the kidneys, they may stop functioning properly. Waste, toxins and fluids build up because they aren't removed from the body. This causes BP to go up.

Often, controlling high blood pressure is a matter of controlling the causes. But if lifestyle changes don't work, blood pressure medications are widely available by prescription.

Many people who have high BP experience no signs or symptoms. But if you have occasional dizziness, nausea, headaches or blurred vision, your body might be telling you that you have BP problems. The best way to be sure however, is to have a good blood pressure reading done by a medical professional.

Low blood pressure causes and symptoms Abnormally low blood pressure, or hypotension, occurs when the heart isn't pushing enough blood through the body. As a result, the organs and tissues don't the oxygen and nutrients they need. Organ damage or failure can occur.

Low blood pressure causes include certain nerve or endocrine disorders, prolonged bed rest, and decreases in blood volume due to severe bleeding or dehydration.

Fainting and frequent lightheadedness are the most common symptoms of low blood pressure. In the worst cases, low blood pressure causes shock.

If you have unusually low blood pressure or hypotension (generally defined as 90/60 or less), it's best to talk to a doctor as soon as possible. Low blood pressure causes organs such as the kidney, liver, heart, lungs, and brain to fail rapidly. 

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