What Exactly Is High Blood Pressure and What Can Cause It?
- drshethrajput
- Oct 26
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 9
Understanding High Blood Pressure: Dr. Sapna Rajput, D.O. - Family Medicine, Mountain View
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most common conditions we encounter in primary care. Many individuals are unaware they have high blood pressure until it is discovered during a routine checkup.
What Is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. When your blood pushes too hard against the artery walls for too long, that’s called high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure can cause damage your heart, brain, kidneys, and other parts of your body. This can lead to serious problems like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
Blood pressure is measured with two numbers:
Systolic pressure (top number): Pressure when your heart beats.
Diastolic pressure (bottom number): Pressure when your heart relaxes between beats.
A normal reading is generally 120/80 mmHg. When readings consistently stay at or above 140/90 mmHg, it is considered high blood pressure.
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
1. Primary (Essential) Hypertension
This is the most common type, making up about 90–95% of cases. It tends to run in families and can develop due to several factors:
Being overweight
Eating too much salt or processed foods.
Drinking excessive alcohol.
Not being physically active.
Experiencing high levels of stress.
Smoking
2. Secondary Causes of High Blood Pressure
Sometimes, high blood pressure is caused by another health issue. These are called secondary causes. Common examples include:
Kidney disease.
Narrowed kidney arteries (renal artery stenosis): This can cause sudden or difficult-to-control blood pressure.
Hormone imbalances
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Commonly associated with obesity, snoring, and daytime sleepiness.
Thyroid problems: Both overactive and underactive thyroid can cause changes in blood pressure.
Certain medications: Pain relievers (like Ibuprofen), steroids, birth control pills, and stimulants can sometimes raise blood pressure.
Coarctation of the aorta: This is a narrowing of the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It’s usually found in younger patients with high blood pressure. Doctors may suspect it if there’s a difference in blood pressure between the arms and legs or if the pulses in the legs are weaker.
What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?
Most people with high blood pressure (hypertension) have no symptoms.. When symptoms do occur, they are usually nonspecific. Common symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, chest discomfort, a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, or occasionally nosebleeds. These symptoms are more likely when blood pressure is severely elevated (for example, a systolic pressure over 180 mmHg) or when it begins to affect vital organs such as the heart, brain, or kidneys.
How Is High Blood Pressure Treated?
Treatment usually combines healthy lifestyle habits with medications when needed.
1. Lifestyle Changes: The Foundation of Treatment
For most people, the first step is adopting heart-healthy habits. These changes can significantly lower blood pressure, sometimes enough to avoid or delay medication.
Healthy habits that work best include:
Follow a DASH diet Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and low-fat dairy. Limit fried and processed foods.
Reduce salt intake: Aim for less than 2,300 mg per day (and ideally closer to 1,500 mg).
Stay active: Get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week.
Maintain a healthy weight: Even a 5–10% weight loss can help lower blood pressure.
Limit alcohol: No more than one drink a day for women and two for men.
Quit smoking: Tobacco damages blood vessels and worsens heart strain.
Manage stress: Try mindfulness, yoga, or breathing exercises to calm the nervous system.
2. Medication
If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower your blood pressure or your blood pressures are consistently high, your doctor may recommend medication. Sometimes, a combination of medicines works best. Your doctor will personalize the plan based on your health, age, and any other medical conditions.
The Importance of Regular Monitoring
It’s important to check your blood pressure regularly, even if you feel completely well. High blood pressure often develops silently, so routine monitoring and getting your annual physical exam every year are simple ways to protect your long-term health. Combining these checkups with healthy lifestyle choices, like eating a balanced diet, staying active, managing stress, and getting enough sleep, can go a long way in keeping your heart and body strong.
If it’s been a while since your last checkup or you’d like help creating a plan to improve your overall health, schedule a visit with Dr. Sapna Rajput in Mountain View. We are happy to help.
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