What is it?
Your heart pumps blood in your blood cells through exchanges and your heart expands to take the blood and close up again when it pumps the blood back out so it can run through your body. This creates pressure in your blood cells and vessels, which you won’t even feel increase. This can only be measured by a blood pressure monitor/meter. The first number is high blood pressure: the pressure when your heart pumps blood out. The second number is the low blood pressure: the pressure when the heart expands when pumping blood. Normal blood pressure is when the high blood pressure is less than 140 and the low blood pressure is 90. From the two numbers, you can calculate your average blood pressure. Your blood pressure changes regularly depending on your body movement and emotions. That is why it’s important to check your blood pressure regularly and not just once.
What causes it?
It’s not clear what in reality causes high blood pressure. What can cause high blood pressure is the movement of your body, but it is not always possible to find out the root of the cause. High blood pressure sometimes is present in certain families, one more than the other. Your blood pressure can increase if you are overweight, if you consume a lot of salt, eat a lot of licorice (candy as well), and if you drink more than two glasses of alcohol a day.
Can it do damage?
It’s not good to keep your blood pressure high for years. High blood pressure on its own is not a disease, but it does increase the risk of complications with your heart and problems with your blood cells or vessels. The latter is not only caused by high blood pressure but also by smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol can all have their influence. This is why it is incredibly important to take care of your body to avoid these diseases, especially if it’s present in your family.
