The causes of blood pressure spikes can be related to certain foods, physical activities or even emotional stress. The spikes can occur in normally healthy individuals. In a March 2010 article published in "The Lancet," Dr. Peter M. Rothwell wrote that individuals who experience abnormal blood pressure spikes may actually have a risk for stroke that is higher than in those people who suffer from consistent hypertension, or high blood pressure.
Foods That Trigger Blood Pressure Spikes
Food or beverages high in caffeine or sodium can trigger blood pressure spikes. Fried, fatty food and foods with high sugar content can also cause spikes in blood pressure. Doctors consider normal blood pressure below 119 systolic and 79 diastolic. Systolic pressure, the first number in a blood pressure reading, is the measurement of pressure exerted by the heart as it pumps blood through the body. Diastolic pressure, the second number in a reading, measures how much force blood places against the walls of arteries in the body. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, blood pressure can be reduced by eating food low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in whole grains, protein and fiber.
Exercise Hypertension
A regular exercise regimen can lower blood pressure, but vigorous exercise can trigger a blood pressure spike, especially for individuals who have an abnormality of endothelial cells, which are cells that line the interior of artery walls. Normally during exercise, the blood pressure increases as the body delivers more blood and oxygen to the muscles and organs. In the April 2004 issue of the "American Journal of Hypertension," Dr. Kerry Stewart wrote that in some individuals, cells along their blood vessels fail to expand enough to transport the higher blood flow, resulting in abnormally high blood pressure spikes. This is called exercise hypertension.
Emotional Causes of Blood Pressure Spikes
Blood pressure spikes can occur when the body responds to stressful situations. This is due to a normal metabolic process. When the brain perceives a threat, it tells the adrenal glands to release a hormone called adrenaline or epinephrine as well as extra glucose and a stream of fatty acids. All this helps deliver more blood and oxygen to the muscles to prepare the body to flee or fight and, in the process, increases heart rate and blood pressure.
References
- "The Lancet"; Prognostic Significance of Visit-to-Visit Variability; Peter M. Rothwell, M.D., Ph.D., F.Med.Sci.; March 2010
- NHLBI: DASH Diet
- "American Journal of Hypertension"; Exaggerated Exercise Blood Pressure Is Related to Impaired Endothelial Vasodilator Function; Kerry Stewart, Ed.D.; April 2004
