10 Surprising Things That Raise Your Blood Pressure
The Bigger Picture
You’ve probably heard that you should limit your salt intake, especially if you have high blood pressure. Because it causes your body to retain water, it puts additional strain on your heart and blood vessels. Blood pressure can be raised by a variety of factors, including salt, stress, and rage. Although transient “spikes” aren’t always a problem, persistently high numbers might cause considerable harm.
Added Sugar
It may play an even bigger role in elevating blood pressure than salt, especially in processed forms like high-fructose corn syrup. The level of added sugars in a person’s diet has a substantial impact on both their upper and lower numbers. One 24-ounce soft drink causes a 15-point increase in systolic pressure (the top number, or the pressure during a heartbeat) and a 9-point increase in diastolic pressure (the pressure between heartbeats) (the bottom number, or the pressure between beats).
Loneliness
It’s not just about how many friends you have; it’s about how connected you feel. And being anxious or depressed isn’t enough to account for the result. It also grows worse over time: in a research, the upper blood pressure of the loneliest persons increased by more than 14 points over four years. According to the researchers, having a persistent dread of rejection and disappointment, as well as feeling more concerned about your safety and security, may alter how your body functions.
Sleep Apnea
People who suffer from sleep apnea are more likely to develop excessive blood pressure and other cardiac problems. Your nervous system generates chemicals that elevate your blood pressure when your breathing is regularly stopped while you’re sleeping. Furthermore, you’re getting less oxygen, which may damage blood vessel walls and make it more difficult for your body to control your blood pressure in the future.
Not Enough Potassium
To keep the proper quantity of fluid in your blood, your kidneys require a balance of sodium and potassium. So, even if you follow a low-salt diet, if you don’t consume enough fruits, vegetables, beans, low-fat dairy, or seafood, your blood pressure may rise. While bananas are a good source of potassium, broccoli, water chestnuts, spinach, and other leafy greens are healthier if you’re trying to lose weight.
Pain
Sudden, or acute, pain ramps up your nervous system and raises your blood pressure. You can see this effect when you put one hand in ice water, press on your cheek or fingernail, or get an electric shock to your finger.
Herbal Supplements
Do you take ginkgo, ginseng, guarana, ephedra, bitter orange, or St. John’s wort? These and others can raise your blood pressure or change how medications work, including drugs to control high blood pressure.
Thyroid Problems
Your heart beat slows and your arteries become less elastic when this gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. Low hormone levels may also increase your LDL “bad” cholesterol, which can clog arteries. Blood travels more quickly through hard vessels, pushing against the walls and increasing pressure. Though less common, too much thyroid hormone can cause your heart to pump quicker and harder, causing your numbers to rise.
You Have to Pee
In a study of middle-aged women who hadn’t gone to the bathroom in at least 3 hours, systolic pressure increased by roughly 4 points and diastolic pressure increased by 3 points. Men and women of various ages experienced similar outcomes. As you become older, high blood pressure becomes more likely, therefore you should acquire reliable readings. One technique to help with this is to have an empty bladder.
NSAIDs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, can all raise your blood pressure readings, whether you’re healthy or have high blood pressure already. Even while the average increase is only a few points, there is a broad variation, which means it may have a greater impact on certain persons than others.
