High blood pressure has become a public health threat: according to the American Heart Association, 122.4 million American adults suffer from it, and only 1 in 4 have it under control.
The consequences can be serious: Hypertension has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, and contributes to nearly half a million deaths each year.
Studies have attributed much of this risk to excess sodium or salt in the diet, which is why Americans have long been urged to reduce this widely used food additive. While salt can often be a major culprit, researchers supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) are working hard to identify other factors that cause high blood pressure. high, which is a complex disease that involves genetic, behavioral and environmental influences. Studies now show that certain lesser-known culprits , such as sleep apnea and decongestants , can increase blood pressure.
Sleep apnea, decongestants and lack of exercise are some of the hidden culprits
The good news: You can take steps to reduce their impact by increasing your knowledge about them.
"It is important for people to know their blood pressure numbers and take steps to reduce high blood pressure levels, including being aware of the many reasons why those levels can rise above normal levels," said Lawrence Fine. , MD, chief of the Prevention and Clinical Applications Branch at the NHLBI. “We urgently need more effective strategies to help people control and maintain their levels.”
Here are five things ( beyond salt ) that can raise your blood pressure, and what you can do. Additional details are described in a section of the NHLBI website titled High Blood Pressure: Causes and Risk Factors .
Obesity
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, research has shown. In fact, the NHLBI’s Framingham Heart Study suggested that approximately 78% of hypertension cases in men and 65% in women can be directly attributed to obesity . One way to lose weight is to follow the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, which limits fats, sugars, and high-sodium foods and emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low dairy in fat, beans, nuts, fish, lean meats and poultry. The DASH plan, developed by NHLBI-funded researchers decades ago, has also been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure.
Lack of exercise
Researchers who study cardiovascular health have long known that lack of exercise is associated with higher blood pressure. But now they are learning what specifically can help. An NHLBI-funded study showed that replacing just 30 minutes of sedentary behavior with moderate to vigorous physical activity, which can range from housework to walking or running, was associated with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). The researchers used data from the NHLBI Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), which included an ethnically diverse group of middle-aged and older American adults. More recently, an NHLBI-funded study found that exercise in combination with the DASH eating plan can help reduce ’resistant’ or uncontrolled hypertension, one of the most difficult to treat forms of high blood pressure.
certain medications
Nearly 1 in 5 people with hypertension may be taking medications for other conditions that can unintentionally raise their blood pressure, according to an NHLBI-supported study published in JAMA Internal Medicine . Medications that are linked to high blood pressure include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin, antidepressants, decongestants, and hormonal birth control pills . Check your medication labels to see if what you are taking could put you at additional risk or talk to your doctor about medications that could affect your blood pressure.
Sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder that occurs when breathing stops and starts many times while you sleep, and can contribute to serious health problems. Studies have linked sleep apnea to high blood pressure, particularly in adults. But apparently the risk can begin in childhood. A recent study funded by the NHLBI found, for example, that children with obstructive sleep apnea are almost three times more likely to develop high blood pressure by the time they reach adolescence than children who never experienced sleep apnea. Talk to your healthcare provider if you think you or your child may have this condition.
The pregnancy
A study supported by the NHLBI found that women who have a premature pregnancy have an associated increased risk of developing high blood pressure in the future. It is important for women to monitor their blood pressure and consult with a health care provider during and after pregnancy, as high blood pressure can harm the health of the mother and the fetus. In fact, another NHLBI-funded study found that women who have high blood pressure during pregnancy , preeclampsia , have a higher risk of premature death. On a more positive note: A recent study supported by the NHLBI found that treating chronic hypertension early in pregnancy benefits both mother and child. The study, which involved more than 2,400 pregnant adults, found that those who received medications to lower their blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg were less likely to have a premature birth or experience one of several serious pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia. Furthermore, the babies’ birth weight did not appear to be affected by antihypertensive treatments.
