Hypertension: what do YOU think causes it?

[manlymatt83]

So many guidelines are out there now on hypertension, and each one keeps getting more and more strict on requirements to thwart hypertension.

First it was below 140/90, then it was below 120/80. Now, an article on WebMD suggests anything higher than 120/80 will DEFINITELY cause artery hardening and heart disease.

Yes, we're all dying of something. But hypertension didn't used to be around, and now it is - or is it just that we started noticing it more now?

So what do YOU think causes hypertension in most people (besides obesity and lack of exercise, because many people are thin and exercise daily, and still have it)?

Stress? Alcohol Consumption? Diet? High Fructose Corn Syrup? Anxiety?

What are your thoughts?

 

[gramboh]

Probably a combination of factors like bad diet, stress/depression, not enough exercise, drugs, excessive alcohol consumption etc.

 

[LongTimePCUser]

High blood pressure issues have always been around. People are noticing it more now.

Also, long term studies have lead to a lowering of the recommended healthy blood pressures. Now the recommendation is to keep it below 120 / 80. Thirty years ago the 132 / 80 was considered healthy. Now that is considered to be pre-hypertension and is known to lead to problems.

As to causes for high blood pressure, the leading candiates is over-weight, lack of exercise and heredity. You can always blame it on your parents but there are things you can do to get it under control.

 

[irishScott]

Other than lack of exercise? Diet primarily, specifically sodium. Most Americans eat WAY too much salt/year. Most take-out food is loaded with it.

 

[IGBT]

..personality is a big part of it. eating/drinking junk and doing goof will make it plenty worse.

 

[marvdmartian]

Uh, yeah. Hypertension/High Blood Pressure has been around for a while now. My grandfather passed away back in 1952, and it was known at that time that he had high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. His heart problems were due also to childhood disease (rheumatism, if I remember right?), but were complicated by bad diet (which led to high cholesterol), lack of exercise, and the fact that none of the nice medicines that we have now were around back then.

Nowadays, we have medications that help high blood pressure and high cholesterol, without much for side effects. We also know what causes those conditions, and can take pains to change our bad habits for good ones. Add to that the surgical procedures that can alleviate some of the things that happen to our bodies when we ignore our good health (stints and bypasses), and we can extend our lives quite a bit longer than my grandfather was able to enjoy.