3 Causes of High Blood Pressure to be Aware of

Having your blood pressure checked on a regular basis is the only way to know if you suffer from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, which has many causes and risk factors. Health experts have not found one single cause of high blood pressure but several factors can contribute to it. The following conditions can lead to high blood pressure.

One high blood pressure cause that you can control is smoking. Smokers are more likely to have high blood pressure, and to develop heart disease than non-smokers. Regular smoking hardens the arteries and creates dangerous blockages which can cause or worsen high blood pressure. To some degree, the risk smoking poses for blood pressure is related to how heavily you smoke, so naturally if you are a heavy smoker it's especially risky. The fact is, however, that smoking to any degree at all, and even exposure to second hand smoke, can increase your risk of hypertension. Fortunately, even if you're a long time smoking, if you quit you can reverse many health problems, including hypertension. 

One problem with high blood pressure is that, in many cases, there is no known cause. Doctors diagnose most cases of high blood pressure as essential hypertension, meaning there is not a specific cause that is known.

While many factors, such as age, diet, smoking and stress can contribute to it, even experts have not identified a specific cause in the majority of cases. Getting regular checkups where your blood pressure is read is the only reliable way to know if you have hypertension. The important thing is that, no matter what the cause, high blood pressure can be treated and managed, either by lifestyle changes alone or with the help of medication.

There are also a variety of medications and drugs that can cause hypertension. People addicted to street drugs, especially "uppers" or cocaine, are prone to high blood pressure. Yet you can also have your blood pressure raised by taking certain prescription drugs, such as birth control pills and many others. Medications bought at the pharmacy without a prescription, such as appetite suppressants and even cold medicines can also raise your blood pressure sometimes. If your blood pressure is high, make sure you pay attention to any medications you take, even over the counter ones. Always ask your doctor if any medication he or she has prescribed may cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure has been referred to as the silent killer because of the fact that there are no symptoms and isn't always diagnosed until it is much worse. By having your doctor check your blood pressure regularly, and becoming familiar with the causes of hypertension, such as the ones we've been focusing on in this article, you can be in a better position to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.