The Texas Heart Institute reports that 73 million people in the United States have high blood pressure, or hypertension. As blood is pumped from the heart, it exerts pressure on the walls of the arteries throughout the body. This is measured as blood pressure, which consists of two numbers. The top number is the systolic pressure, the amount of pressure it takes for the heart to pump out blood, and should be less than 140. The lower number, diastolic pressure, is a measure of the arterial pressure when the heart is at rest and should be less than 90. Hypertension is caused by several different factors.
Age, Race and Family History
Aging makes the arteries stiffer, and the heart has to work harder to pump blood. This is more predominant in men, according to MayoClinic.com. Being of African-American descent increases the risk of developing high blood pressure and the chances of having serious complications such as stroke and heart attack secondary to hypertension. High blood pressure tends to run in families.
Obesity, Alcohol and Smoking
It has long been recognized that being overweight causes the heart to work harder. Being obese requires more blood to get nutrients to the body, and this increases blood pressure. Nicotine from cigarettes narrows the arteries and can cause the lining of the arteries to be damaged. This can make the arteries stiff, forcing the heart to work against an inflexible arterial system. Having two or three drinks in a row can temporarily elevate the blood pressure, according to MayoClinic.com. Heavy alcohol use can damage the heart and cause the pressure to remain high.
Physical Inactivity and Stress
People who are inactive have higher heart rates, and this requires the heart to work harder with each contraction. Inactivity is associated with obesity. While studies have not always been consistent, it is recognized that stress, anger and hostility release hormones that can affect blood pressure. MayoClinic.com notes that people often try to deal with their stress by using alcohol and cigarettes, but this only contributes to maintaining high blood pressure.
