If you've been diagnosed with
hypertension – high blood pressure – you're not alone. According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, high blood pressure affects 1 in 3 adults,
but many people don't even know it.
The exact causes of hypertension are
puzzling to most physicians, but several factors may play a role including
being overweight, smoking, and lack of exercise. If your weight is under
control, you don't smoke, you exercise regularly, and you eat a healthy diet,
but your blood pressure is still high, what else could be contributing to your
problem?
Check out the following causes of high
blood pressure you may not have considered:
1. BPA:
Bisphenol A or BPA is a chemical used in manufacturing plastic bottles and
coating the inside of cans. Several studies, including one published in the
journal Hypertension, found that systolic blood pressure increased in
volunteers by 4.5 mm Hg after drinking two canned beverages a day compared to those
who drank two beverages from glass bottles.
2. OTC Medications: Many common over-the-counter medications can raise blood pressure, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil). A Swiss study found that acetaminophen (Tylenol) can also raise blood pressure. In addition, cold and flu medications that contain decongestants may do the same.
3. Licorice: In addition to candy, licorice is used in other products, including tobacco and beverages. Although licorice has many medicinal purposes and has been used for thousands of years to treat heartburn, colic, and other problems, it contains a compound called glycyrrhizinic acid that can raise blood pressure.
4. Sleep Apnea: Experts estimate that 22 million Adults suffer from sleep apnea, and 80 percent of cases are undiagnosed.
5. Caffeine: Many studies have found that caffeine increases blood pressure, but it affects some people more than others.
6. Thyroid problems: Both hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) and hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) can cause high blood pressure.
7. Hyperparathyroidism, which is an excess of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) made by the parathyroid glands in the neck, can also raise blood pressure.
8. Sugar: A study published in Open Heart found that sugar may be worse for blood pressure than salt.
9. Loneliness: A study from the University of Chicago found that lonely people have blood pressure readings as much as 30 points higher than people who don't feel lonely.
As always, stay safe!
-Bird
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