Hypertension
Hypertension which means high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and damage to the eyes.
It causes the heart to work harder than normal, putting both the heart and arteries at greater risk of damage. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into the arteries that carry the blood throughout the body. There are no external signs of hypertension, so many people may have it for years without noticing.
The exact causes of hypertension are not fully understood. But there are several factors and conditions that may help in its development, some including:
- being overweight
- chronic kidney disease
- family history of high blood pressure
- genetics
- lack of physical activity
- old age
- smoking
- stress
- too much alcohol consumption
- too much salt in the diet