| Does anyone know what really causes high | | | | of high blood pressure than on people form |
| blood pressure? It is quite difficult to | | | | families with mostly low blood pressure. |
| distinguish whether symptoms stem from high | | | | This will happen sooner in young people and |
| blood pressure or are just mere coincidences. | | | | later in middle-aged and elderly people. |
| Things are less simple for less obviously | | | | Evidence of these causes is consistent and |
| absurd cases.Studies show many different | | | | convincing. However, that does not eliminate |
| kinds of secondary high blood pressure where | | | | the possibility of other causes present in |
| the primary causes may be quite different | | | | some people, of which the most obvious and |
| from the continuing causes. An example is a | | | | important are psychical, psychological and |
| rare disease known as coarctation of the | | | | social stresses.The theory that physical and |
| aorta, a disease of the large artery carrying | | | | psychological stress is the root cause of |
| blood out of the heart. In this condition, | | | | most high blood pressure was very popular in |
| the aorta is tightly constricted a few inches | | | | the 1960s and 1970s, but research since then |
| beyond its origin and then expands to its | | | | has proved it not to be true. There may be a |
| normal diameter. Undoubtedly, blood pressure | | | | minority of people with high blood pressure, |
| must rise above the constriction and fall | | | | for whom it is the main cause, but it fails |
| below it, just as it does when one compresses | | | | to explain most cases. Extensive studies |
| a hosepipe. Yet, if this constriction is | | | | have looked for an association between the |
| removed surgically and the normal continuity | | | | so-called type A personality (people who are |
| of the aorta is restored, blood pressure | | | | described as ambitious, aggressive and |
| usually takes several years to fall to normal | | | | time-conserved) and high blood pressure, but |
| level. The initial case of high blood | | | | none can be found. Instead, it was found |
| pressure is the constriction, but the | | | | that very nervous people have normal or even |
| continuing cause is probably complex changes | | | | low blood pressure but many easygoing people |
| in circulating hormones, which function to | | | | have dangerously high blood pressures. On |
| maintain blood flow through the kidneys | | | | the other hand, there is a tendency for some |
| despite the obstruction, which may persist | | | | people with depression to have raised blood |
| for a long time even after the obstruction, | | | | pressures, falling when depression ends, |
| has gone.Aside from the genetic pathogenesis | | | | either simultaneously or after treatment for |
| of the disease, there is profound evidence | | | | depression. Obviously, there are many other |
| that there are several factors which are true | | | | good reasons for avoiding social and |
| and independent causes of high blood | | | | psychological stresses, regardless of any ill |
| pressure. These factors are obesity, high | | | | effects on blood pressure. Even if they are |
| sodium intake, low potassium intake and a | | | | not directly causing high blood pressure, |
| high alcohol intake. The effect they have | | | | they inevitably affect your capacity to cope |
| varies in most cases depending on heredity; | | | | with treatment and you should make sure that |
| they have a much greater effect on people | | | | your physician is aware of them. |
| whose families have an increased prevalence | | | | |