Understanding these risk factors can help prevent or reverse high blood pressure

Here they are :

📌Unhealthy Diet : Diets high in sugar ,refined carbohydrates , salt ,bad fats like trans fat , low in nutrients, high in calories can lead to weight gain which increases the risk of hypertension . Processed foods usually contain high levels of sodium , unhealthy fats , added sugars can raise blood pressure. Examples are : canned soups , snacks , fast foods , deli ( which can be high I salt ) , pre-packaged are serious culprits .There’s a nugget that states : “Don’t dig your grave with your fork”

📌Smoking or Tobacco use: Some people smoke tobacco while some chew it . This can raise blood pressure Temporarily. How ? The main active ingredient in cigarette smoke is NICOTINE which stimulates the release of 2 hormones : Epinephrine and Norepinephrine which increase blood pressure

📌High Caffeine Intake: caffeine affects individuals differently but excessive consumption of caffeine can indeed raise or spike blood pressure levels Temporarily

📌Hereditary Factors : Genetics can play a significant role in chronic diseases like high blood pressure. I would like to add that it’s how genes express themselves under different circumstances that matters . It’s the environment around the genes that really determines how are genes are expressed at different times . This is EPIGENETICS ( Epi means above ) . “GENETICS LOAD THE GUN, LIFESTYLE PULLS THE TRIGGER . We aren’t doomed by our genes 🧬! We are not destined to our GENETIC CODE!!! It’s the environment we place around our genes that determine manifestation. That’s why such changes prevent or reverse these chronic diseases

📌Sex: Gender also plays a role in raising blood pressure. Men are more likely to develop it before age 55 while women’s risk increases at a higher age and even after menopause

📌Medications: Medications can have some unpleasant side effects normally . Certain medications and supplements can raise blood pressure. Such meds include :
•Antidepressants like SSRI eg paroxetine and fluoxetine
•Birth control pills
•Anti-inflammatory meds like ibuprofen, diclofenac
•Supplements like licorice, senna

📌Sleep Disorders: Inadequate sleep such as getting less than 6 hours of sleep can raise blood pressure ( I get headaches when I don’t get enough sleep ) . Other sleep disorders that can raise blood pressure include insomnia and sleep apnea

📌Hormonal changes : This tends to affect women the most . Research has discovered that a hormonal imbalance that makes it difficult to control blood pressure in about 10% of hypertensive patients . Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and menopause can affect blood . Examples are Pregnancy-induced hypertension ( can be deadly if not well monitored and treated )