{"id":2781,"date":"2026-06-16T06:50:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T06:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=2781"},"modified":"2026-06-16T06:50:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T06:50:35","slug":"5-surprising-things-that-can-affect-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=2781","title":{"rendered":"5 Surprising Things that Can Affect Blood Pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"


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May is <\/em><\/em>Hypertension Awareness Month<\/em><\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

The usual suspects \u2014 obesity<\/a>, genetics, stress, salt intake, tobacco and alcohol use \u2014 affect your blood pressure. But did you know there are some things you may not have thought about? <\/p>\n

For some people, it\u2019s cold medication. We all know decongestants are great for opening up a stuffy nose, but they also make it harder for blood to flow, which can increase blood pressure. <\/p>\n

As it turns out your blood pressure can be affected by a lot of things. Ironically, even going to see your healthcare provider (HCP) for a blood pressure check can cause a rise in levels, also known as \u201cwhite coat syndrome.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spike in blood pressure here or there is usually nothing to worry about, but chronic high blood pressure<\/a> can be deadly. This is especially important for women to note as nearly half of all women in the U.S. have high blood pressure<\/a>, and less than 1 in 4 have it under control.<\/p>\n

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What is high blood pressure, and how serious is it?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious chronic condition that affects 120 million people in the U.S. \u201cThat\u2019s almost half the people in the country,\u201d said Michelle Kelsey, M.D.<\/a>, a general cardiologist and associate professor at Duke’s School of Medicine.<\/p>\n

Hypertension causes the force of blood to push against your artery walls<\/a> with pressure that is consistently too high. \u201cThis makes your heart work harder to pump blood and can lead to heart attacks, stroke or other serious health conditions over time,\u201d Kelsey explained. <\/p>\n

\u201cHypertension is often called a \u2018silent killer,\u2019<\/a>\u201d Kelsey said.\u201cWhile hypertension is asymptomatic in most people, you really have to check it to know.\u201d <\/p>\n

Here are 5 surprising things that can increase your blood pressure:<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Dehydration<\/strong> \u2013 Missing an occasional glass of water isn\u2019t a big deal. But consistently running your body on empty can cause your blood pressure to drop, at first. \u201cYou feel light-headed and woozy, while your body tries to compensate by squeezing your blood vessels and hanging onto salt,\u201d Kelsey explained. Over time, this can lead to high blood pressure.<\/p>\n

2. <\/strong>Sleep apnea<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Sleep apnea occurs when your breathing starts and stops at night while you sleep. This disrupts your ability to get restorative sleep and reduces your oxygen intake. Sleep apnea can be caused by living with overweight or obesity (which can be a risk factor for hypertension itself) or a structural issue that causes an obstruction in the airways as you breathe. \u201cThe drops in oxygen levels put stress on your body, which can lead to high blood pressure,\u201d Kelsey said.<\/p>\n

3. <\/strong>Chronic pain <\/strong>\u2013 Similar to the way stress can cause blood pressure to rise, chronic pain also triggers stress in the body and an adrenaline response that can cause full blown hypertension over time. One study found people with chronic widespread pain had a 75% increased risk of high blood pressure<\/a>, while people with short-term pain had a 10% higher risk.<\/p>\n

4. <\/strong>Loneliness<\/strong> \u2013 Social isolation and social stressors, like feelings of loneliness, can increase stress and contribute to the development of high blood pressure.One study<\/a> of adults ages 45 to 85 found that the women who were single and had limited social activity had higher than average blood pressure. And if you have high blood pressure, not having someone to check in on you or take you to appointments can worsen the problem, according to Kelsey. <\/p>\n

5. <\/strong>Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) <\/strong>\u2013 Popping an ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve) every day may seem innocent enough, but it may also raise your blood pressure. NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which leads to sodium and water retention in the kidneys, reduced blood flow and narrowed blood vessels.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Talk to your healthcare provider<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s important to keep track of your blood pressure. The risk for hypertension increases with age so you could be walking around with high levels that increase your risk for heart attack and stroke and not even know it.<\/p>\n

Your healthcare provider can assess your risk and check your blood pressure regularly to see if medications or lifestyle changes are needed. \u201cKnowing your numbers can be empowering,\u201d Kelsey said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

May is Hypertension Awareness Month. The usual suspects \u2014 obesity, genetics, stress, salt intake, tobacco and alcohol use \u2014 affect your blood pressure. But did you know there are some things you may not have thought about? For some people, it\u2019s cold medication. We all know decongestants are great for opening up a stuffy nose, but they also make it harder for blood to flow, which can increase blood pressure. As it turns out your blood pressure can be affected by a lot of things. Ironically, even going to see your healthcare provider (HCP) for a blood pressure check can cause a rise in levels, also known as \u201cwhite coat syndrome.\u201d A spike in blood pressure here or there is usually nothing to worry about, but chronic high blood pressure can be deadly. This is especially important for women to note as nearly half of all women in the U.S. have high blood pressure, and less than 1 in 4 have it under control. What is high blood pressure, and how serious is it? High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious chronic condition that affects 120 million people in the U.S. \u201cThat\u2019s almost half the people in the country,\u201d said Michelle Kelsey, M.D., a general cardiologist and associate professor at Duke’s School of Medicine. Hypertension causes the force of blood to push against your artery walls with pressure that is consistently too high. \u201cThis makes your heart work harder to pump blood and can lead to heart attacks, stroke or other serious health conditions over time,\u201d Kelsey explained. \u201cHypertension is often called a \u2018silent killer,\u2019\u201d Kelsey said.\u201cWhile hypertension is asymptomatic in most people, you really have to check it to know.\u201d Here are 5 surprising things that can increase your blood pressure: 1. Dehydration \u2013 Missing an occasional glass of water isn\u2019t a big deal. But consistently running your body on empty can cause your blood pressure to drop, at first. \u201cYou feel light-headed and woozy, while your body tries to compensate by squeezing your blood vessels and hanging onto salt,\u201d Kelsey explained. Over time, this can lead to high blood pressure. 2. Sleep apnea \u2013 Sleep apnea occurs when your breathing starts and stops at night while you sleep. This disrupts your ability to get restorative sleep and reduces your oxygen intake. Sleep apnea can be caused by living with overweight or obesity (which can be a risk factor for hypertension itself) or a structural issue that causes an obstruction in the airways as you breathe. \u201cThe drops in oxygen levels put stress on your body, which can lead to high blood pressure,\u201d Kelsey said. 3. Chronic pain \u2013 Similar to the way stress can cause blood pressure to rise, chronic pain also triggers stress in the body and an adrenaline response that can cause full blown hypertension over time. One study found people with chronic widespread pain had a 75% increased risk of high blood pressure, while people with short-term pain had a 10% higher risk. 4. Loneliness \u2013 Social isolation and social stressors, like feelings of loneliness, can increase stress and contribute to the development of high blood pressure.One study of adults ages 45 to 85 found that the women who were single and had limited social activity had higher than average blood pressure. And if you have high blood pressure, not having someone to check in on you or take you to appointments can worsen the problem, according to Kelsey. 5. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) \u2013 Popping an ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve) every day may seem innocent enough, but it may also raise your blood pressure. NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which leads to sodium and water retention in the kidneys, reduced blood flow and narrowed blood vessels. Talk to your healthcare provider It\u2019s important to keep track of your blood pressure. The risk for hypertension increases with age so you could be walking around with high levels that increase your risk for heart attack and stroke and not even know it. Your healthcare provider can assess your risk and check your blood pressure regularly to see if medications or lifestyle changes are needed. \u201cKnowing your numbers can be empowering,\u201d Kelsey said. 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