Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood on the inner walls of the vascular passages while it is flowing through the blood vessels. Individuals with normal blood pressure have highly flexible and elastic blood vessels which indicate their health. Elasticity and flexibility of the blood vessels cause proper blood circulation throughout the body.
In general, High blood pressure damages vascular health. High pressure exerted by the blood on the vascular walls reduces their flexibility and elasticity. It makes them narrow and stiff. Any damage to the blood vessels increases the strain on the heart, thereby contributing to heart diseases.
Early diagnosis will prevent damage to the heart and arteries, as it helps in getting the treatment on time. Moreover, The doctor will prescribe medications to control the blood pressure. Which will eliminate the health risk. The blood pressure spikes can be managed by controlling several factors that cause it to become high. Factors that lead to the increase in blood pressure are given below:
Too much salt in the diet
Excessive amounts of salt in the diet will make the individual prone to high blood pressure condition. Too much salt is not good for your health, as it causes the retention of water in the body. As the body retains more water, the volume of blood increases as a result. Increased blood volume will increase the heart’s efforts to get the blood pushed throughout the body.
The higher the volume of blood, the greater will be the force with which the heart will have to pump the blood throughout the circulatory system. The heart might get harmed due to the application of greater force. Therefore, limiting salt intake is necessary for keeping blood pressure within healthy limits.
Health conditions
The individual may develop hypertension due to health conditions such as high cholesterol, kidney disease, diabetes, etc. Such conditions can harm vascular health and cause them to become hard. Which makes it difficult for the blood to pass through them. This causes the heart to pump blood with greater force, which contributes to its severe damage. Hence, individuals living with metabolic syndrome are more likely to develop chronic hypertension.
Chronic smoking
In general, Cigarette smoke contains health-harming chemicals, which take away vascular flexibility and elasticity. The hazardous chemicals damage arterial health by reducing the levels of nitric oxide in the walls of the blood vessels. Nitric oxide is a powerful chemical that can be attributed to increasing the health of the blood vessels. It expands the blood vessels and allows more blood to flow through them.
Smoking depletes nitric oxide, thereby causing the narrowing of the blood vessels. It injures the walls of the blood vessels and affects the blood flow. It potentiates the risk of heart damage. Therefore, giving up smoking is the only option. Which will increase the nitric oxide levels in the vascular linings and improve vascular health.
Excessive caffeine intake
In general, Caffeine is a substance that can cause short-term spikes in blood pressure. Hypertensive individuals need to limit their intake of caffeine-based drinks, which causes a sudden and dramatic increase in blood pressure. Caffeine has vasoconstricting properties. Which contract the blood vessels and causes them to become narrow.
Narrowing of the blood vessels causes an increase in blood pressure. People who consume caffeine-based drinks excessively must limit their intake. The most common source of caffeine is coffee. Coffee lovers must take note.
Little to no physical activity
Some may not get enough time to exercise every day, while others may simply avoid it on the grounds of laziness. Moreover, It is necessary to understand the importance of regular exercise. And how it can transform your life. Lack of physical activity leads to weight gain. And it also leads to high cholesterol levels in the blood.
High cholesterol
Moreover, High cholesterol contributes to the clog formation in the arteries, as the cholesterol fats get accumulated in the vascular passages. Exercising is beneficial as it eliminates the bad cholesterol in the blood. Which prevents clogging in the arteries. Regular exercise improves blood circulation throughout the body and increases the health of the vascular system. Exercising daily for at least 30 minutes will help you in managing your blood pressure within safe limits.
Unhealthy diet
Most people do not get enough time to cook meals at home owing to their busy lifestyles. This is why they turn to ready-to-eat meals such as processed meals, junk food, or street food. Such foods are mostly prepared using unhealthy ingredients. Moreover, They may contain excessive amounts of unhealthy fats like saturated fats or trans-fat, that spike cholesterol levels. Along with that, such foods also contain excessive sugars, salt, and refined ingredients that lack nutritional value.
Foods
Moreover, Switching such foods with healthy foods that include more vegetables, fruits, leafy greens, grains, cereals, lentils, sprouts, etc. will nourish your body with essential nutrients, minerals, and fibers. These foods will enhance your overall health and safeguard your body from developing health conditions.
Certain types of foods such as pomegranates, beets, citrus fruits, tomatoes, onions, bananas, pineapple, berries, bell peppers, fatty fish, nuts and walnuts, etc. boost blood circulation and increase vascular health. Rather than eating unhealthily, include more healthy foods that can get you long-term health benefits.
Medication side effects
Some medications can also contribute to sudden spikes in blood pressure. It can happen as a side effect of the medicine. Such medications can be antidepressants, pain-reliever medications, NSAIDs, steroids, contraceptive pills, herbal supplements, etc.
