|
Some Common Myths Thought to be True - Myth 88
Myth 88: Stress is a Major cause of Hypertension
Stress can make blood pressure go up for a while, and it has been thought to
contribute to high blood pressure. But the long-term effects of stress are as
yet unclear. Stress management techniques do not seem to prevent high blood
pressure. However, such techniques may have other benefits, such as making you
feel better or helping you to control over-eating.
In as many as 95% of reported high blood pressure cases in the U.S., the
underlying cause cannot be determined. This type of high blood pressure is
called essential hypertension. Though essential hypertension remains somewhat
mysterious, it has been linked to certain risk factors. High blood pressure
tends to run in families and is more likely to affect men than women. Age and
race also play a role. In the United States, blacks are twice as likely as
whites to have high blood pressure, although the gap begins to narrow around
age 44. After age 65, black women have the highest incidence of high blood
pressure.
|
Essential hypertension is also greatly influenced by diet and lifestyle. The
link between salt and high blood pressure is especially compelling. People
living on the northern islands of Japan eat more salt per capita than anyone
else in the world and have the highest incidence of essential hypertension. By
contrast, people who add no salt to their food show virtually no traces of
essential hypertension.
The majority of all people with high blood pressure are "salt sensitive,"
meaning that anything more than the minimal bodily need for salt is too much
for them and increases their blood pressure. Other factors that can raise the
risk of having essential hypertension include obesity; diabetes; stress;
insufficient intake of potassium, calcium, and magnesium; lack of physical
activity; and chronic alcohol consumption.
When a direct cause for high blood pressure can be identified, the condition is
described as secondary hypertension. Among the known causes of secondary
hypertension, kidney disease ranks highest. Hypertension can also be triggered
by tumors or other abnormalities that cause the adrenal glands (small glands
that sit atop the kidneys) to secrete excess amounts of the hormones that
elevate blood pressure. Birth control pills -- specifically those containing
estrogen -- and pregnancy can boost blood pressure, as can medications that
constrict blood vessels.
|