by Lyndon Roberts


High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a common condition which has many causes and risk factors and the only way to know if you have this condition is to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. Health experts have not found one single cause of high blood pressure but several factors can contribute to it. The following are some factors that can lead to high blood pressure.

Some people have underlying conditions such as adrenal or thyroid conditions that if left untreated can contribute to high blood pressure and hypertension. Hypothyroidism, where not enough thyroid hormone is produced, is a condition that is frequently associated with high blood pressure.

Yet both men and women can have high blood pressure at any age, and this condition is actually becoming more common in young people, especially those who are overweight. That's why it's a good idea to get regular checkups where your blood pressure is checked, especially if you are middle aged or older. Of course, your diet and lifestyle have a lot to do with it as well, and age is only one factor when it comes to high blood pressure.

If you have certain long term illnesses, they can raise your risk of developing high blood pressure. Especially in the elderly, kidney disease is a common cause of hypertension. Because type 1 and type 2 diabetes damage the kidneys, they both can also cause high blood pressure. You are at a greater risk for developing kidney disease or diabetes if there is a family history. Your doctor will want to monitor your blood pressure if you are ever diagnosed with either diabetes or any kind of kidney disease and may even prescribe medication to help manage it.

Sleep apnea is one cause of high blood pressure that is not as well known. This is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to breathe normally when sleeping. People with sleep apnea often snore as well which is a symptom of obstructed breathing while asleep. People with sleep apnea are often tired throughout the day because they are not getting restful sleep. Doing a sleep study at a sleep disorder clinic is the only way to diagnose this condition that targets overweight people and those who smoke. Chronic sleep apnea can contribute to high blood pressure, as well as heart disease, so it's important to find out if you have this problem.

Even many younger people today have the risk of being overweight and developing hypertension because of a lack of physical activity. It takes some effort but can be reversed with exercise. 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. Have your doctor check your blood pressure regularly, become familiar with the causes listed here in this article in order to better your position to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.




About the Author: