Causes of Diet and High Blood Pressure
The causes of blood pressure may vary according to individuals.
In 90 to 95% of the cases of high blood pressure cases, the cause is unknown. Many patients have had high blood pressure for years and do not know it. That’s why high blood pressure is sometimes called a silent disease. It creeps on you unaware. It often has no signs and symptoms and yet it becomes a life long disease. When the cause is unknown it is called essential or primary hypertension.
Certain associations have been noticed with people having essential hypertension. They include a high intake of salt, hereditary (genetic) susceptibility, obesity and kidney failure (renal insufficiency). Lack of exercise and aging inflammation may also play a role in the development of hypertension.
In about 10 to 5 % of the remaining cases hypertension is due to certain factors that can be corrected. They include:
- Narrowing of certain arteries
- Kidney abnormality
- Structural abnormality of the aorta existing from birth
The metabolic syndrome where individuals have insulin resistance and a tendency to Type 2 Diabetes is also a cause of developing hypertension.
