Little-known conditions that increase your blood pressure
Although salt and stress are the main culprits that increase blood pressure, you also have other insidious enemies that will suddenly increase your blood pressure, although you may find it difficult to think of.
Sugary foods
Consuming sugar, although not as much as salt, increases both your systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This effect is probably due to excess insulin.
Loneliness
It's not just about the number of friends you have, it's also about not feeling lonely. Being stressed or depressed alone does not fully explain this effect. It also gets worse over time: In a 4-year study, the loneliest people's high blood pressure increased by more than 14 points compared to others. Researchers think that experiencing an ongoing fear of rejection and disappointment, as well as feeling more worried about your safety, may change the way your body works. The probability of encountering them is higher. When your breathing becomes interrupted repeatedly while you sleep, your nervous system releases chemicals that raise your blood pressure. Additionally, because you receive less oxygen, blood vessel cells are damaged and their ability to regulate blood pressure is lost.
Inadequate potassium intake
Your kidneys need a balanced sodium-potassium ratio to keep the right amount of fluid in your blood. So even if you're eating a low-salt diet, you may have higher blood pressure if you don't consume enough fruits, vegetables, legumes, low-fat dairy or fish. If you think bananas are the only source, you are wrong. Broccoli, chestnuts, spinach and other green leafy vegetables are better in terms of both potassium and weight control.
Herbal supplements
Do you consume ginkgo, ginseng, guarana, ephedra or dozens of other products claimed to be herbal? ? These and others may raise your blood pressure or reduce the effectiveness of medications you take to control high blood pressure. Do not use these types of products without your doctor's advice.
Thyroid problems
When this gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, your heart rate slows down and your arteries become tense. blood pressure decreases, making it difficult to control blood pressure. Low hormone levels can also increase your LDL "bad" cholesterol, which can harden the arteries. Blood moves faster through hard vessels, pushing against the walls and raising blood pressure. Although uncommon, too much thyroid hormone can make your heart beat harder and faster, which can increase your blood pressure.
Pain relievers and flu medications
Medications can raise blood pressure by reducing the release of substances that dilate blood vessels. . In addition, especially in long-term use, they damage the kidneys and cause high blood pressure. They also reduce the effects of some blood pressure medications. Medicines used to reduce the symptoms caused by flu increase your blood pressure because they contain active ingredients that contract the blood vessels.
Thirst
If there is not enough water in your body's cells, your blood vessels contract. This happens because your brain sends a signal to your pituitary gland to release a chemical. It secretes a substance in the kidneys that causes blood vessels to contract to lose less fluid through urine. Some blood pressure medications we use also cause dehydration. That's why we should drink plenty of water, especially in the summer months.
Birth control pills
Pills, injections and other birth control devices use hormones that narrow blood vessels, so your blood pressure may rise. It's more likely to be a problem for women who are older than 35, overweight, or who smoke. A lower dose of hormone may keep your blood pressure close to normal.
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