There are several factors that can cause high blood pressure, including:
- Genetics: High blood pressure can run in families, suggesting a genetic component.
- Lifestyle factors: Unhealthy lifestyle habits such as lack of exercise, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and a diet high in salt, fat, and sugar can contribute to high blood pressure.
- Obesity: Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.
- Age: As people age, their risk of developing high blood pressure increases.
- Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as kidney disease, diabetes, and sleep apnea, can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Complications of high blood pressure can include:
- Heart disease: High blood pressure can cause the heart to work harder than it should, leading to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke.
- Kidney damage: High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to kidney disease and even kidney failure.
- Vision loss: High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the eyes, leading to vision loss or even blindness.
- Peripheral artery disease: High blood pressure can cause the blood vessels in the legs and feet to become narrow or blocked, leading to peripheral artery disease, which can cause pain and difficulty walking.
- Sexual dysfunction: High blood pressure can affect blood flow to the genitals, leading to sexual dysfunction in men and women.
- Dementia: High blood pressure can cause damage to the blood vessels in the brain, which can increase the risk of developing dementia.
It is important to manage and control high blood pressure through lifestyle changes and medication to reduce the risk of these complications.
For more information on this topic, please reach out to us at RescueMD at 972-390-7667. We are an internal medicine, weight loss and women’s health practice. We serve Allen, Frisco, Mckinney, Plano, Dallas and surrounding areas. In addition to physicians, we also have registered dietitians and personal trainers on staff to treat and manage most cases.
