Hypertension has long been associated with unhealthy diet choices and a lack of physical activity, but there are three big, everyday causes that are often neglected by those looking for causes of their elevated blood pressure: excess salt intake, stress, and poor sleep patterns. These three aspects of our lives all play a silent role in affecting our blood pressure for the long-term and, more often than not, without causing any discernible symptoms. Unfortunately, when these issues are left unaddressed, the likelihood of suffering from many serious medical conditions (as a result of elevated blood pressure) – heart disease and stroke; kidney damage; and other significant health problems increases significantly. The first step towards effectively managing one’s blood pressure is understanding how these hidden causes work. In this article, we will discuss the same as backed by the best high blood pressure clinic in Mohali.
- Salt
Salt contains sodium, which plays a big role in the regulation of fluid levels within the body. If the body gets too much sodium, it will hold onto too much water. This extra water in the body increases the amount of pressure that each blood vessel puts on the blood vessel walls, which increases the amount of work that the heart has to do to push blood through the blood vessels. There are many common foods that have large amounts of sodium that you may be consuming daily, including:
- processed snack foods
- packaged foods
- instant ramen noodles (or other instant noodle products)
- fast food
- pickles
- sauces
Many people consume a much larger amount of sodium on a daily basis than they realize even if they do not add additional sodium when preparing their meals.
- Stress
As per the best hypertension doctor in Punjab, stress can not only create psychological symptoms, but can also cause you to have physical symptoms as well. For instance, stress will cause your body to produce hormones (like adrenaline and cortisol) that will momentarily raise your blood pressure through the following:
- increasing your heart rate
- narrowing your blood vessels
- causing inflammation
Although occasional stress is a normal experience, chronic stress (a constant state of being under an elevated level of stress) will keep your body in a constant state of “fight or flight”.
- Sleep
According to the best heart care hospital in Chandigarh, sleep is one of the most undervalued aspects of heart health. If your sleep quality is poor or you do not get enough sleep, your body cannot properly manage your hormone levels (especially stress hormones) and your blood pressure. Some medical conditions, such as Sleep Apnea, can also reduce your oxygen level multiple times during sleep, further stressing your heart.
Conclusion
There is a strong connection between salt, stress and sleep with regard to blood pressure. Most people do not recognize that these three silent culprits exist until they experience complications due to these factors. The good news is that you can make small, consistent changes to your lifestyle that will have a huge impact on your overall health and wellness. Being aware of what you eat, how you control stress, and how well you sleep will significantly influence your heart health and help you maintain good blood pressure for years.
Sohana Hospital Mohali, thanks to its advanced technology and the best cardiologist in Chandigarh, is the top choice for patients with hypertension. Book your appointment today!