10 Causes of Hypertension – A Diet High In Salt Content

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a chronic medical condition that affects one in three adults in the US, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Also called as the silent killer, it is a condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is abnormally elevated.In most of the cases, the condition takes years to develop and people do not notice any symptoms initially. Most people find out about hypertension only when they suffer a heart attack or get a medical check-up done.Clyde Yancy, MD, chief of cardiology in Chicago, Illinois says that hypertension is simply unavoidable as a person ages. As you hit the 55 age mark, you become 90% susceptible to hypertension. Moreover, sustained hypertension for a long period can put you at a risk of coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, and hypertensive heart disease.The causes resulting in hypertension vary from person to person and can be extremely difficult to identify. In over 90% cases, doctors arent able to find one clear-cut cause of the condition and mostly suspect numerous issues at play. Factors which can result in hypertension and put you at a greater risk of developing the condition have been discussed below:

The first culprit that instantly comes to mind when we mention hypertension is eating too much salt. A diet high in salt content is responsible for approximately 20-40 % of cases of hypertension in the US, according to the Institute of Medicine. It has also been found that Americans consume 10-15 times more salt than they actually need. Salt acts on your kidneys by making them retain more water. The stored water then builds pressure on your kidneys and increases the blood pressure. An alteration in sodium intake can work wonders for hypertension patients. Typically, you should limit sodium intake to 2,300 mg per day.

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10 Causes of Hypertension - A Diet High In Salt Content