On the average, adults have 5 liters of blood flowing through their bodies. This vital fluid transports oxygen, hormones and nutrients to our muscles and organs, and flushes waste away from the kidneys. When the vessels that transport the blood become constricted, or clogged, that same 5 liters of blood is forced to occupy a smaller amount of space. This causes an increase in pressure inside the heart and blood vessels.
A number of factors can cause an increase in blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension.
Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, occurs when fatty deposits accumulate on the interior walls of the arteries. Calcium deposits form in the fatty areas, harden, and form plaques. The interior volume of the artery decreases, as does the artery's flexibility. Factors such as high fat diets, alcohol use and smoking can increase the risk of arteriosclerosis.
High Sodium Levels
Some sodium, or salt, is needed in the diet, according to the Mayo Clinic. It helps the body regulate blood pressure and volume, and is necessary for proper muscle and nerve function. Sodium regulates blood pressure by attracting water molecules. Increased sodium in the blood causes increases in blood volume. Too much sodium in the blood can lead to high blood pressure. Sodium levels can be increased by overconsumption of salt ,or by the body's inability to excrete sodium, due to a condition such as kidney disease or cirrhosis.
Obesity
As the body grows larger, more blood is required to meets its needs. This increase in blood volume increases the pressure on the vessels that transport the blood. For this reason, obesity is commonly linked to hypertension.
Stress
Spikes in blood pressure due to anxiety or stress are temporary. However, Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D, of the Mayo Clinic, warns that frequent episodes of these sudden, extreme elevations of blood pressure are destructive to the tissues of the blood vessels and heart.
Tobacco
Tobacco use causes blood vessels to constrict, resulting in an immediate, temporary spike in blood pressure. Just as in cases of stress, these recurrent episodes of increased pressure damage the heart and blood vessels. Additionally, the chemicals in tobacco injure the vascular endothelium, which is the cell lining of the blood vessels. Narrowed arteries and increased blood pressure result.
Alcohol Overuse
Drinking more than two alcoholic beverages per day causes an increase in blood pressure that is dose-dependant on the amount of alcohol consumed, according to Victoria J. Drake, Ph.D. of the Linus Pauling Institute. Lower levels of alcohol consumption--two drinks per day for men, and one for women--are not associated with hypertension, and may, in fact, have some beneficial health effects.
