What reason, other than being overweight or stressed, could cause high blood-pressure?

Question

I've lost a lot of weight, changed my diet to a healthy one, and exercise regularly, but my blood pressure is still high, sometimes higher than before I did these things, with headaches.
What else could cause it? I'm now about 16 lbs more than I should be, not massively overweight.

I've also cut out added-salt and now use pottassium chloride (known as K salt) to add savour.

Answer 1

In addition to stress and obesity Other Causes are : 1. Genetic factors : heredity, Race.
2. Excess sodium intake, -low potassium diet. 3. During withdrawal of alcohol in alcoholics 4. Smoking. 5. Sedentary life.

Answer 2

The 'cause' of hypertension has been the subject of considerable study over the past 2 decades. The answers so far have listed 'things' which might contribute to your blood pressure reading but they are not causal. The arteries are lined by endothelial cells. They are a continual 'tube' and the blood circulating through such vessels is often referred to as the blood envelope. It is thought that the primary cause of hypertension is endothelial dysfunction. The endothelial cell is truly remarkable and the ability to generate a wide variety of vaso-active substances. Endothelial dysfunction is thought initially to be a reversal of the normal response to vaso-active peptides. This means that something that would normally dilate the blood vessel actually constricts it. The next step in hypertension is thought to be an alteration in rheology (blood flow). Laminar blood flow is good but hypertensive individuals begin to display non-laminar blood flow. This is important because with laminar blood flow potentially harmful substances in the blood stream do not come in contact with the wall of the artery. With non-laminar blood flow not only due such substances 'strike' the wall of the artery they cause the wall of the artery to express adhesion factors so that these harmful substances stick to the wall of the blood vessel. Penetration of these substances into the intima or media of the arterial wall is thought to the be next step. The problem is that there is about a 10 year period involving what I have referenced above prior to the blood pressure being elevated. Thus considerable damage has been done prior to diagnosis. This suggests that routine blood pressure measurement is essential in making an early diagnosis and once the diagnosis is made decisive and definitive intervention is very important. We have several families of drugs today which seem to restore endothelial function as well as lower blood pressure. Of course no medication will be able to undo all of the damage meaning that a hypertensive patient with a 'normal' blood pressure will have a higher risk of cardiovascular events than someone with the same blood pressure reading but without a history of hypertension. If I may be of further assistance please let me know. I wish you the very best of health and may God bless.

Answer 3

If you have a family history of high blood pressure, then you may have to take medication to reduce your BP. Sounds like you've done great so far, but if you need the med to keep it under control, take the meds. High BP is so bad for you. You mentioned that you've adapted a healtthy diet, have you lowered your sodium? High sodium can cause high BP. Good luck!!

Answer 4

Inherited predisposition. From your answer alone, we can tell that you're very upset by this. This is causing stress. Try to not obsess so much about it. Do something that relaxes you instead...gardening, walking, sex...whatever.

Answer 5

high sodium intake can cause it....do you eat lots of frozen dinners or packaged foods? i'm not specialist but i do know that sodium is one cause of high blood pressure that you didn't list.

Answer 6

May want to consider arterial or athero sclerosis.

Answer 7

Genetics. Sometimes, no matter what you do, it is in your genes. You may want to exercise. That may help

Answer 8

cardio-vascular disease.