An alarming percentage of African Americans have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. In fact, data shows that Black people are almost twice as likely to have this condition as those of other ethnicities. While some risk factors for developing high blood pressure are obvious cush as genetics or a poor diet, there are other factors that might surprise you.
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There Are Issues With Your Thyroid
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can affect your blood pressure. In the former, low production of thyroid hormones will make your arteries more rigid, raise the bad cholesterol, and slow your heart rate. When all these issues are combined, the end result is high blood pressure.
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Since an improperly working thyroid can affect a lot more than your heart, it’s important to check assessed if you have any of the symptoms.
You Have A Sleeping Disorder
Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that throws several of the body’s systems out of whack because you don’t sleep well. It shouldn’t be surprising then that persons with sleep apnea also have a high likelihood of being diagnosed with high blood pressure. It’s estimated that disrupted sleep releases chemicals that raise your blood pressure.
In the long run, the lack of sleep can also weaken important blood vessels. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be treated so if you’re having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor quickly.
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You’re Missing Human Interaction
Social interaction has been found to be an important pillar in maintaining overall wellness. Without it, persons often battle with depression, anxiety, and heart issues. That includes having high blood pressure. If this sounds like you, it’s best to find social activities that suit you while getting the benefits you need.
There’s Too Much Added Sugar In Your Diet
When it comes to high blood pressure, persons are usually on high alert for salt. However, added sugar should be on your radar too.
Sugar can raise both the diastolic and systolic numbers of your blood pressure, especially if it’s in the form of high fructose corn syrup. In this case, keeping your sugar intake in check can work wonders.
You Take NSAIDs Regularly
The effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can vary from one person to the other.
However, the drugs can cause raised blood pressure levels even in those who are fairly healthy. If you take them regularly, ask your doctor about alternatives.
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You Use Decongestants All The Time
Many decongestants contain pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, which narrow the blood vessels. This narrowing can contribute to having high blood pressure. When choosing a decongestant, ask your pharmacist for options that won’t affect your blood pressure.
You Have Chronic Pain
As you might expect, experiencing acute pain can cause a temporary spike in your blood pressure. Persons who have chronic pain, on the other hand, may have a more permanent spike to deal with. The best route to relief is managing your pain as well as possible.
Your Diet Is Lacking Potassium
Maintaining healthy blood pressure requires a balance between sodium and potassium. Even if you’ve cut down on your salt intake, not getting enough potassium will make it hard to get your blood pressure down. Foods like bananas, broccoli, and spinach are excellent sources of potassium.
You Take Certain Herbal Supplements
While herbal supplements can have health benefits, there are a few that will raise your blood pressure and interfere with how your medications work. If you’re taking ginkgo, ginseng, guarana, ephedra, bitter orange, or St. John's wort, talk to your doctor about how they might be affecting your health.
You Take A Hormonal Birth Control
Hormone-based contraceptives are known to cause narrowing in the blood vessels, which in turn raises your blood pressure. The risk is higher for women who are over the age of 35, overweight, or who smoke regularly. In this case, asking your doctor for birth control that has lower estrogen levels can help.
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It’s important to note that persons of any age can be diagnosed with high blood pressure. Worse yet, the condition does not always cause any symptoms until it starts to affect other systems or organs in the body. Doctors recommend getting an annual check-up and possibly more often if you have any risk factors in your family that are associated with high blood pressure.
