Wednesday, May 9, 2012

7 Sneaky HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE CULPRITS | Health

Your Medications

Birth control pills usually boost blood pressure slightly, as do hormone or estrogen replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms. Other drug culprits include aspirin, ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers (they can cause fluid retention that boosts blood pressure). Decongestants in cough and cold medications can increase blood pressure or interfere with drugs to lower..

High Fructose Corn Syrup

This sweet stuff is in sodas, soups, and all kinds of processed foods. Research presented in 2009 showed that a daily diet containing 74 grams or more of HFCS (the amount in 2.5 sugary soft drinks) increased the risk of hypertension in people with no history of high blood pressure. In the study, consuming that much HFCS led to a 28 percent, 36 percent, and 87 percent higher risk for blood pressure levels of 135/85, 140/90, and 160/100 mmHg, respectively. (Normal pressure is below 120/80.)

Too Much Noise

Surprising, but true--exposure to traffic noise can increase the risk of high blood pressure by more than 25 percent. Swedish investigators analyzed 24,000 questionnaires from adults ranging in age from 18 to 80 who lived within earshot of loud engines, honking horns, and screeching brakes. The researchers found that the effect of traffic noise was riskiest for adults age 40 to 59, and the louder the noise, the higher the blood pressure: sounds of about 64 decibels

The Virus You Didn’t Know You Had

Some research suggests that cytomegalovirus (CMV), a herpes virus, may be a major cause of high blood pressure. Almost all adults have been exposed to CMV, which normally doesn’t cause trouble, except, possibly in people with compromised immune systems, and it can lead to birth defects in babies of women infected during pregnancy. 

High-Volume Snoring

Vitamin D Deficiency

It’s estimated that at least half of us get insufficient amounts of vitamin D. This shortfall has been associated with a long list of diseases including multiple sclerosis and some types of cancer. It is also linked with a higher risk of high blood pressure

Natural Herbs

A few popular herbal remedies may not be so good for your blood pressure. If you already have hypertension, watch out for these: ginsengSt. John’s wortbitter orange, and licorice root.

7 Sneaky High Blood Pressure Culprits | Yahoo! Health: CLICK  FOR  MORE..

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