Knowing What The Causes Of High Blood Pressure Are

It is hard to tell whether the causes of high blood pressure actually are a result of having high blood pressure or are simply mere coincidences.

Studies About The Causes Of High Blood Pressure

There have been numerous studies done about the causes of high blood pressure. These studies have shown that there are many different types of secondary high blood pressure which are not caused in the same way that high blood pressure is caused.

For instance, there is a rare disease that is called coarctation of the aorta. This disease effects the large artery that carries blood out of your heart. Herein the aorta is tightly constricted a few inches before expanding to its normal diameter. This must be one of the causes of high blood pressure. However, once this is surgically corrected blood pressure will still take several years in order to return to its normal level. While the initial cause is known, what continues to cause a person to have high blood pressure is not known.

Other studies have shown that the causes of high blood pressure may actually be genetic. These studies have also shown that being overweight, eating a lot of salt, drinking a lot of alcohol and not eating enough potassium are other causes of high blood pressure. Of course, all of these factors vary greatly depending upon a person's genetics. For this reason, someone who is genetically inclined to have high blood pressure will be more greatly effected by these other issues. This is especially true with younger people. However, it is not known for sure why this actually happens. These causes of high blood pressure may be due to psychological or social stress.

A Popular Theory For The Causes Of High Blood Pressure

In the 1960s and 1970s it was believe that both physical and psychological stress were to blame for high blood pressure. Since then research has proven that this is simply not true. Of course, there may be a very few people for whom this is true, but it does not explain most of the causes of high blood pressure. This is why there have been extensive studies done, looking at what the real causes of high blood pressure may actually be. These studies have shown that depression as well as social and psychological stresses can cause a person to have high blood pressure. For this reason, it is important to tell your doctor about these things even if you do not have high blood pressure.