Even medical people who have researched blood pressure for decades admit that the cause is unknown for about 95% of high blood pressure problems and you could have it without even knowing, even if you’re otherwise healthy. For this reason it’s important that you know what your blood pressure is and have it checked on a regular basis to keep blood pressure down.
As you know, smoking and coffee causes a temporary rise in your blood pressure, so don’t smoke or drink coffee for at least thirty minutes before you have your blood pressure taken. If you’re a smoker, you should know that you have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure than a non-smoker.
Other reasons that increase your risk include high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, or other medical conditions, or if you’re over the age of 60, or if you are of menopausal age. When you check your blood pressure, it is normal that there will be fluctuations, and a one time high reading doesn’t necessarily mean you have hypertension. Be alarmed when those readings are consistently high, because that is the time when a diagnosis is made. The hypertension medications that you are taking may also contribute to the rise in your blood pressure. (more…)