The heart is one of the hardest working organs in the body, although it is only the size of a fist. High blood pressure, or spikes in high blood pressure, can damage the heart, making it work harder than necessary. High blood pressure spikes may precede heart disease. People can prevent this from occurring by simply preventing sudden spikes in their blood pressure.
Smoking
Smoking is a major cause of blood pressure spikes; every cigarette a person smokes increases their blood pressure a minimum of 10 points, according to MayoClinic.com. A smoker's blood pressure remains elevated for at least an hour after smoking. The culprit is the nicotine in the cigarettes, which causes blood vessels to constrict, making it more difficult for blood to flow through them.
Anxiety
Bouts of anxiety are also a leading cause of blood pressure spikes. While these episodes may not have a long-term affect on a person's pressure, if they occur frequently they can do as much damage to the blood vessels and heart as chronic high blood pressure, as Dr. Sheldon G. Sheps, a hypertension specialist, explains on the information website MayoClinic.com.
Caffeine
The American Heart Association notes that caffeine may have a temporary affect on a person's blood pressure. However, this typically occurs in those who do not subject themselves to caffeine on a regular basis.
MayoClinic.com adds that it is not clear how long caffeine affects a person's blood pressure. The clinic suggests drinking no more than 200mg of caffeine a day, which is the equivalent of two cups of coffee.
Binge Drinking
Alcohol may actually lower blood pressure when people drink it in small amounts. When a person drinks more than the recommended amounts--one drink for a woman and two for a man--it can cause a sudden spike in blood pressure, as can binge drinking. MayoClinic.com defines binge drinking as a person drinking four or more drinks in a row. This can cause a dramatic and dangerous spike in blood pressure.
