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What Causes High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)?

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a condition in which the force of blood against artery walls is consistently too high. Many risk factors can raise blood pressure, including eating too much salt, gaining weight, not getting enough exercise, aging, stress, smoking, and genetics (family history), certain health conditions, and medications.

Jump to Key Takeaways.

High blood pressure can be caused by many factors, some of which are preventable.

Tatiana Maksimova / Getty Images


1. Age-Related Arterial Stiffness

Arteries stiffen with age, causing blood pressure to rise. You can take steps to lower your risk of high blood pressure caused by age-related arterial stiffness, including:

2. Poor Diet (High Sodium and Processed Foods)

Diet can greatly impact blood pressure. Many ultra-processed foods are high in salt, refined carbohydrates, and additives that can contribute to hypertension. Ways to prevent diet-related high blood pressure include:

3. Lack of Physical Activity

A sedentary lifestyle slows metabolism and promotes weight gain, both of which can contribute to high blood pressure.

Ways to manage a sedentary lifestyle include:

4. Being Overweight or Having Obesity

Carrying excess weight can increase blood pressure. Obesity and hypertension often go hand in hand. To address this:

5. Chronic Conditions

Diabetes, kidney disease, and sleep apnea are chronic conditions that affect blood pressure regulation.

Ways to manage these conditions include:

6. Genetics and Family History

Hypertension can run in families, but healthier lifestyle choices can make a difference in regulating blood pressure, even in those genetically predisposed to high blood pressure.

To manage your risk of hypertension:

Hypertension in Black Americans

Black Americans have higher rates of uncontrolled hypertension than other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. About 55% of Black adults in the United States have high blood pressure.

7. Chronic Stress

Elevated stress hormones can cause temporary and long-term blood pressure increases.

Ways to manage stress and hypertension include:

8. Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol damages blood vessels and raises blood pressure.

To address this risk:

9. Smoking and Tobacco Use

Nicotine damages arteries and causes blood pressure to spike.

To address this risk:

10. Certain Medications

Some medications raise blood pressure as an unwanted side effect. Medications to be aware of include:

To address this risk:

  • Ask a healthcare provider about alternatives.
  • Monitor blood pressure regularly.
  • Do not stop taking prescription medications without consulting a healthcare provider.

How to Get an Accurate Blood Pressure Reading

You can measure your blood pressure at a healthcare provider’s office or a pharmacy, or with a home monitor. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, smoking, and exercise for 30 minutes before the test. Take two readings and average them for accuracy.

High blood pressure spikes are sudden jumps in blood pressure, often caused by stress, caffeine, nicotine, or medication side effects. Anxiety, anger, coffee, energy drinks, or decongestants can be triggers. Avoiding spike-inducing factors helps keep blood pressure steady.

How to Get a Personal Treatment Plan

To get a personalized treatment plan for hypertension, see a healthcare provider. After checking your blood pressure, and assessing your health records, they may recommend lifestyle changes, medication, or both. Regular check-ups help track progress and fine-tune your plan as needed. 

A Word From Verywell

High blood pressure is asymptomatic, meaning you cannot feel how high it is. As a result, many people have high or elevated blood pressure and don’t know it. It’s helpful to take your blood pressure several times over a week or month and write it down. Share the results with your healthcare provider.


Summary

  • High blood pressure can be caused by too much salt, stress, not enough exercise, being overweight, smoking, or certain health problems.
  • High blood pressure also runs in families and can be age-related.
  • Eating well, staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing stress can help keep high blood pressure under control.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Additional Reading

  • Cedars Sinai. What to Know About High Blood Pressure in Young Men.

  • Tasić T, Tadić M, Lozić M. Hypertension in women. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022;9:905504. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2022.905504

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By Christopher Bergland

Bergland is a retired ultra-endurance athlete turned medical writer and science reporter. He is based in Massachusetts.

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