{"id":343369,"date":"2025-10-30T15:03:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T15:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/343369\/"},"modified":"2025-10-30T15:03:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T15:03:12","slug":"cardiologists-reveal-the-surprising-causes-of-high-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/343369\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardiologists Reveal the Surprising Causes of High Blood Pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"

High blood pressure and the effect it has on cardiovascular health<\/a> is a big concern for many. And yet, you’re likely only getting your blood pressure checked at your yearly physical or other check-ups, which can allow high blood pressure (aka hypertension) to fly under the radar\u2014especially if you don’t know the most common causes of high blood pressure. \u201cHigh blood pressure, in most cases, is asymptomatic,\u201d said Lawrence Phillips, M.D.<\/a>, cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health. \u201cSo people don\u2019t feel that they have it, which is why regular screening is so important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meet the experts: Lawrence Phillips, M.D.<\/a>, cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health; Amnon Beniaminovitz, M.D.<\/a>, a cardiologist at Vivify Medical in New York City.<\/p>\n

Here, cardiologists explain the lifestyle choices and health conditions that can contribute to high blood pressure, plus the changes you can make to address them and bring your numbers back down into a healthy range. <\/p>\n

What is high blood pressure?<\/p>\n

They don\u2019t call high blood pressure a \u201csilent killer\u201d for nothing. Turns out, about half of Americans<\/a> have this condition, which, left unaddressed, can cause hardening of the arteries, stroke, kidney damage, and even early cognitive decline and dementia. Yet most people with high blood pressure have no idea they\u2019re affected. <\/p>\n

In the simplest terms, blood pressure<\/a> is the force of your blood against the walls of your blood vessels and arteries, and it is expressed as two numbers: The top number (systolic blood pressure) represents the pressure or force in the arteries when your heart beats, and the bottom number (diastolic blood pressure) is the pressure measured between heart beats, explained Amnon Beniaminovitz, M.D.<\/a>, a cardiologist at Vivify Medical in New York City. <\/p>\n

While normal blood pressure is necessary for survival, high blood pressure<\/a> is dangerous because it means your heart is working much harder to pump blood throughout your body. \u201cYou can sort of think of high blood pressure as your blood punching the walls of the heart and other organs over and over again,\u201d said Dr. Phillips. \u201cIf that punching is at a high force, you\u2019re going to develop thickening and damage over time.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the American Heart Association<\/a>, anything above 120\/80 mmHg is considered elevated blood pressure, while anything over 130\/80 mmHg is considered high blood pressure. The good news: Elevated and high blood pressure can often (but not always) be addressed with diet and lifestyle modifications, said Dr. Phillips. <\/p>\n

Causes of high blood pressure 1. You eat too many processed foods. <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n

    Excessive sodium intake has a direct impact on blood pressure. \u201cMore salt equals more sodium in the blood, which then pulls water from the surrounding tissues into your vessels and increases blood volume,\u201d said Dr. Beniaminovitz. \u201cMore blood volume leads to higher blood pressure.\u201d <\/p>\n

    But if you\u2019re thinking, I don\u2019t even use that much salt, it\u2019s probably still hiding elsewhere in your diet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>, Americans are consuming an average of 3,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day, which is well beyond the recommended cap of 2,300 mg per day. And of that, more than 70% of a person\u2019s sodium intake is coming from processed and restaurant foods, including things like bread, breakfast cereal<\/a>, chips, cookies, pizza, canned beans and veggies, canned soups, and pasta sauce\u2014not the salt shaker itself.<\/p>\n

    Additionally, a diet heavy in processed foods can cause weight gain, and \u201cwhen people are overweight, the body has to pump blood to more tissue, which can increase blood pressure,\u201d said Dr. Phillips. \u201cWe see an extremely large amount of high blood pressure in obese patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

    BP fix: Favor fresh, whole foods whenever possible<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Instead, load up on whole foods rich in beneficial nutrients, like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, fish, nuts, seeds, and olive oil, suggested Dr. Beniaminovitz. Potassium<\/a> and magnesium<\/a> are both minerals that help blood vessels relax<\/a>, which in turn can help lower blood pressure; and research<\/a> links high-fiber diets to significant reductions in systolic blood pressure. <\/p>\n

    If you want to follow a specific dietary plan that\u2019s been proven to lower blood pressure, Dr. Beniaminovitz recommended either the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet<\/a> or a well-formulated Mediterranean Diet<\/a>. <\/p>\n

    2. You have more than one alcoholic drink per day on a regular basis.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    For people who already drink, moderate alcohol consumption (one drink a day for women, two a day for men) is often not a problem, and some research<\/a> suggests it may even help prevent heart disease. However, heavier alcohol consumption\u2014especially frequent binge drinking episodes\u2014can lead to chronically elevated blood pressure, said Dr. Phillips. <\/p>\n

    BP fix: <\/strong>Imbibe in moderation.<\/p>\n

    Aim for just one drink at a time, which equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of spirits. And if it\u2019s really more about the ritual than the alcohol itself, consider periodically swapping out your glass of cabernet for a kombucha or other non-alcoholic option. <\/p>\n

    3. You\u2019re not active enough.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Sitting too much or leading a sedentary lifestyle can mess with just about every aspect of your health, and your cardiovascular health is no exception. \u201cBeing sedentary leads to elevated blood pressure, both indirectly and directly,\u201d said Dr. Beniaminovitz. Sedentary people tend to be overweight or obese, and as mentioned above, weight is one of the main driving causes of high blood pressure. <\/p>\n

    Additionally, getting regular aerobic activity helps you maintain a healthy blood pressure by making blood vessels more compliant (or flexible) and less sensitive to hormonal influences, he explained\u2014so a lack of such activity may accelerate arterial hardening, forcing the heart and blood vessels to work that much harder. <\/p>\n

    BP fix: Get your body moving.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A research analysis<\/a> of nearly 400 studies suggests that regular exercise could be as effective as commonly prescribed blood pressure drugs. \u201cIn the pantheon of physical activity, aerobic exercising is the best for blood pressure,\u201d said Dr. Beniaminovitz. The American Heart Association<\/a> recommends aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week (about 20 to 30 minutes a day) such as biking, brisk walking<\/a>, swimming, a barre class, or even higher-speed varieties of yoga like vinyasa. <\/p>\n

    4. You\u2019re stressed all the time.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    From an evolutionary standpoint, stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released into the blood to help us escape danger (to fight or flee). They increase heart rate, elevate blood pressure, constrict blood vessels, and enlarge our pupils to help us think and move fast, explained Dr. Beniaminovitz. <\/p>\n

    In the past, the stressful event was typically over pretty quickly\u2014but today, relentless work demands, overbooked schedules, challenging relationships, and even social media have led to an epidemic of chronic stress<\/a>, which triggers the same release of stress hormones. But unlike our ancestral past, there\u2019s often no reprieve\u2014it\u2019s constant\u2014and thus, blood pressure may remain elevated.<\/p>\n

    BP fix: Find your zen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Physical activity is one of the most effective ways to reduce levels of stress hormones and minimize their impact on blood pressure, said Dr. Beniaminovitz. Mindfulness practices like deep breathing, meditation, and yoga<\/a>, or even reading a book or listening to your favorite music, can also keep stress hormones in check. <\/p>\n

    You may also need to cut out certain activities, like checking those work emails at all hours. \u201cPeople have to get to know themselves and their triggers, and how they may be able to remove themselves from situations that increase stress and anxiety<\/a>,\u201d said Dr. Phillips. <\/p>\n

    5. Your social calendar is empty.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    You may not necessarily feel stressed when you experience loneliness or social isolation, but these feelings\u2014when they persist\u2014can trigger the same dangerous release of stress hormones that spike blood pressure, said Dr. Beniaminovitz. Not to mention, chronic loneliness is associated with depression<\/a>, and research has shown<\/a> a correlation between depression and the subsequent development of high blood pressure.<\/p>\n

    BP fix: Make plans\u2014and see them through.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cWe are social beings and we need a certain amount of social interaction to function optimally,\u201d said Dr. Beniaminovitz. But if the idea of putting yourself out there seems impossible, start small. Send a friend a quick DM to say you\u2019re thinking of them and see where things go. Combine physical activity and social time by committing to a weekly Saturday morning yoga class with a pal. Want to make new friends? Try volunteering to meet like-minded people. <\/p>\n

    6. You have sleep apnea (or you’re told you snore a lot).<\/strong><\/p>\n

    In general, inadequate sleep may lead to high blood pressure by increasing stress hormones, or by increasing your cravings for junk food and thus contributing to weight gain, said Dr. Beniaminovitz. But the biggest sleep-related cause of hypertension is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)<\/a>\u2014a disorder that causes someone to stop breathing for brief periods of time while sleeping due to an obstruction of their upper airway. <\/p>\n

    \u201cWith higher obesity rates, more and more people are developing OSA,\u201d said Dr. Phillips. \u201cThis leads to broken sleep and decreased oxygen levels in the body, and part of the body\u2019s response is to increase blood pressure.\u201d In fact, it\u2019s estimated that half of people with hypertension also suffer from OSA<\/a>. Some signs you may have sleep apnea<\/a>? Your partner says you snore or gasp in your sleep and you\u2019re always tired despite going to bed at a reasonable hour. <\/p>\n

    BP fix: See a sleep specialist.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    If you suspect OSA, see your doctor ASAP so they can conduct a sleep study in which your oxygen levels will be measured throughout the night, said Dr. Phillips. If you are diagnosed, you will likely be prescribed a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine<\/a> to wear over your mouth and nose at night to help you breathe. <\/p>\n

    7. You have another health condition\u2014or you take one of these medications.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    If you do have high blood pressure, your doctor will likely take into consideration the range of other diseases and disorders that, when poorly managed, cause your blood pressure to become elevated. These include thyroid problems<\/a>, renovascular disease, Cushing\u2019s syndrome, and a number of others. \u201cThe key to all these conditions is the correct diagnosis,\u201d said Dr. Beniaminovitz. \u201cWhen the proper diagnosis is made, working with your doctor to reverse and or treat these conditions often cures high blood pressure.\u201d <\/p>\n

    Additionally, a number of common medications can increase blood pressure such as antidepressants<\/a>, decongestants, St. John\u2019s Wort, oral contraceptives<\/a>, NSAIDs, and prednisone, per the Mayo Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    BP fix: <\/strong>Keep track of your symptoms.<\/p>\n

    If your doc says your BP is high, bring up any strange symptoms that could indicate an underlying cause (for example, if you\u2019re experiencing weight gain, exhaustion, and hair loss<\/a>, it could be hypothyroidism<\/a>), and always provide them with a list of your current medications and supplements. <\/p>\n

    If your meds are the issue, \u201cideally they would be discontinued or changed to ones that have no or less effect on blood pressure,\u201d said Dr. Beniaminovitz. \u201cIf a change in medication is not possible, often your doctor will prescribe optimal lifestyle and blood pressure medication to combat the effects.\u201d<\/p>\n

    8. You have a family history of hypertension. <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Genes do play some role in high blood pressure, which is why younger people in seemingly great health can still be diagnosed with hypertension, said Dr. Phillips. However, more often than not, it\u2019s also likely that people with a family history of high blood pressure share common environments (similar diets, similar sedentary lifestyles, etc.) that increase their risk\u2014and these are very much modifiable. <\/p>\n

    \u201cOur genes also interact with the environment and we can influence them by the choices we make,\u201d said Dr. Beniaminovitz. \u201cWhile lifestyle changes may not help you in never developing high blood pressure if you have a strong family history, optimal lifestyle will aid in delaying the onset of blood pressure and the need for early medications. Instead of developing high blood pressure in your 30s or 40s, with optimal diet and lifestyle you may delay the onset of high blood pressure to your late 60s or 70s.\u201d<\/p>\n

    BP fix: Implement the tips above!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    There\u2019s no magic bullet, but if you have a strong family history, that\u2019s even more reason to implement all of the dietary and lifestyle recommendations above\u2014eat whole foods, move your body more, manage stress\u2014and get your blood pressure checked regularly. <\/p>\n

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