5 Bad Habits That Will Increase Your Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. Most of this pressure is due to work done by the heart by pumping blood through the circulatory system. Used without further specification, “blood pressure” usually refers to the pressure in large arteries of the systemic circulation. Blood pressure is usually expressed in terms of the systolic pressure over diastolic pressure and is measured in millimeters of mercury, above the surrounding atmospheric pressure.
Here are some of the bad habits that credit for an increase in blood pressure:
1. Drinking Alcohol Excessively
Having lots of alcohol in one sitting can raise your blood pressure temporarily, which means that it will return to normal once the effect of alcohol wears off. However, experts say that your blood pressure can remain elevated if you constantly drink alcohol in excessive amounts.
2. Having Coffee
Experts say that taking a lot of coffee can actually increase the blood pressure considerably. To fend off heart-related problems, it’s a good idea to limit your intake of coffee to 2 to 3 cups per day.
3. Leading a Sedentary Life
Being physically inactive, on the other hand, is regarded as a risk factor for high blood pressure and heart disease, too.
4. Unhealthy Eating
We all know that a diet that’s high in sodium can cause blood pressure to rise — this is the reason why people with hypertension or heart disease are strongly discouraged from having a high-sodium diet.
5. Taking Certain OTC Medications
Some medications for mental issues, immune system, and cancer may also elevate the blood pressure, but one must not quit taking them without first talking to the prescribing doctor.