Devising Your Own High Blood Pressure Diet

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is almost a certainty that your doctor has advised you to begin adhering to a high blood pressure diet as a way to control your hypertension. If you are also overweight, your extra pounds could be a factor in increasing your blood pressure; so your high blood pressure diet may be a low-calorie diet as well, at least until you lose the unwanted weight. If weight is not an issue, your high blood pressure diet will not be a calorie-restricted one.The Basics Of A High Blood Pressure DietA high blood pressure diet demands that you cut back on or eliminate some foods, while increasing your intake of others. Salt is a prime culprit in creating high blood pressure, so you should be consuming no more than five grams of salt per day. You will have to start paying attention to the sodium in the packaged and canned foods you buy, because many of them are notorious for their high salt content. Go for the low-salt or no-salt versions. You can learn to season your food with herbs and spices; they are the secrets to many a brilliant culinary career.You doctor is going to tell you that, as a part of your high blood pressure diet, you will have to lower or stop your consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and high fat foods. Fresh fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids--salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines--are healthy choices which will give your body the"good fats" it needs. see If you absolutely cannot live without meat, choose white meat chicken or turkey, baked or roasted with the skin removed. High fiber whole grain cereals and baked goods; potassium-rich fruits like bananas and prunes; beans; fresh fruits--especially blueberries and citrus fruits; vegetables including spinach, broccoli carrots, avocados, and celery; low-fat dairy products; unsalted nuts and soy products; and flaxseeds are all ingredients n a well-balanced high blood pressure diet.Getting Help From ExerciseYour diet, if you want to maximize its hypertension-reducing benefits, should be accompanies by a consistent exercise program. Walking, cycling, swimming, or treadmilling between one-half and three-quarters of an hour every day can cause an additional decrease in blood pressure, but to achieve any results, the exercise must be aerobic, and it must be done regularly. You high blood pressure diet will work on its own, but may need the extra boost provided by regular exercise to get your blood pressure back into normal range.

Can Vitamin B Help You Manage Your High Blood Pressure?

Garlic contains different vitamins such as vitamins B and C that are required by the body to remain healthy and strong. Clinical studies have found that Vitamin B12 is considered to be one vitamin which is beneficial in lowering blood pressure. Unfortunately, B 12 isn't one of the B vitamins within garlic. However, some believe foods which contain a particular substance known as inluins - such as garlic - help to stimulate the growth of specific bacteria known as lactobacillus in the colon. These bacteria produce B12 and may supply the body with some of the vitamin.

Nevertheless, in order for vitamin B12 to be used as a serious treatment for controlling hypertension, it must be taken in the form of a supplement or come from food sources that are rich in B12.

How does Vitamin B12 help reduce blood pressure? Vitamin B12, also known as folate or folic acid, plays an essential role in the formation of red blood cells. It is believed to help lower blood pressure by helping blood vessels relax, improve circulation, and by lowering homocysteine levels.

Homocysteine is an amino acid that exists in the blood. It is a toxic waste product that is created during cellular metabolism. If the levels of homocysteine become too high (which could be related to a poor diet or genetics), researchers believe it can damage the inner lining of arteries and encourage blood clots. Elevated homocysteine is also connected to a higher risk of stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and coronary heart disease.

Various studies have been conducted to determine the blood pressure-lowering effects of folic acid taken in the form of a supplement. In one small study involving 24 cigarette smokers, folic acid supplements were found to significantly lower the blood pressure in these individuals.

Another study conducted on young women, found that those who receive a minimum of 1,000 micrograms of B12 daily, either from their diet or by taking supplements, are less likely to develop hypertension; lowering their risk by more than 45%.

Although researchers have already concluded that a diet rich in folic acid can lower high blood pressure, this was the first study to reveal that higher intake of folic acid can lower the risk of developing hypertension.

How can you take vitamin B12? Vitamin B12 is naturally found in leafy green vegetables, lentils and citrus fruits. It can also be found in other food sources including dairy products, eggs, fish, beef, pork and organ meats (especially kidney and liver). Some foods may also be fortified with folic acid including certain bread and cereal products.

Usually, people who have a daily diet rich in folic acid do not require supplements. However, approximately 10-30% of elderly people (65 years and older) may not be able to properly absorb Vitamin B12 from food and will require supplements.

For those who are interested in taking supplements, vitamin B12 can be found as part of a multivitamin, or as an individual supplement. Supplements are usually in the form of a tablet or capsule and are taken daily. Before taking supplements you should read all of the product instructions and talk to your doctor about the recommended dose for treating your high blood pressure.

Is vitamin B12 safe? Vitamin B12 is usually safe and non-toxic when the recommended amount is ingested. That being said, folic acid may cause side effects in some people and interact with certain medications (I.E. certain antibiotics, chemotherapy medications, anti-ulcer medications, etc.) In addition, you should never take any single B complex vitamin by itself for a prolonged period of time, as this can cause an imbalance among other essential B vitamins your body requires.

Thus, when taking B 12 supplements for managing blood pressure, you should be supervised by your health care provider.

Causes of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a big problem around the world. Many people are given a diagnosis of high blood pressure and have no idea how they received the condition. For starters, it’s good to understand that there are two different types of high blood pressure: secondary high blood pressure, and primary high blood pressure. Each type is caused by a different thing.Secondary high blood pressure can be caused by a number of things. For starters, it can happen in chronic kidney disease. Any sort of disease of the adrenal gland will also cause high blood pressure, as will any tumor. These cause high blood pressure because your body is trying to react and fix the problem, but is unable to. If you were born with a narrowing in the aorta of your heart, you can have high blood pressure. One of the side-effects of using birth control pills is that you may wind up with high blood pressure. Pregnancy can also cause high blood pressure, which can bring on a condition called pre-eclampsia. If you have primary high blood pressure, there is a good chance that your doctor will have no idea why you have it. In over 90% of people with primary high blood pressure, doctors do not know what caused the condition. There are some risk factors, however, that can point to a higher risk of having high blood pressure. Men tend to get high blood pressure more than women do, and those who are overweight also tend to suffer with high blood pressure. As you grow older, your arteries harden and you have a much higher chance of having high blood pressure, and if you have a family history of high blood pressure, you are much more likely to have the condition.

Pssst, want to positively do something about your High Blood Pressure? Get yourself a pooch and walk it!Seriously, this is not a wind up nor is it a reverse promotion for the Canine Defence League (or whatever). It is genuine recommendation for those who suffer with High Blood Pressure and want to do something positive about it in a natural manner.I suffer from High Blood Pressure. I keep banging on about it in a number of articles because in a great many ways (mine probably included if I am brutally honest), something can be done about and it may (note MAY, not DEFINITELY) have been avoidable.But I digress; this article is about what can be done about High Blood Pressure (HBP or Hypertension) not about how I managed to get it.There are two options to consider when you are diagnosed with High Blood Pressure.Firstly you can sit there and go "Woe is me, how many tablets do I have to take and at what part in the proceedings will impotence hit me?" Us guys like to get our priorities right ?Secondly you can sit up, re evaluate how you got into that position in the first place and then try and see if you can do something about it. The latter path is the one yours truly decided upon and hence we find ourselves discussing the merits and relative advantages of getting a mutt!In my case the BP readings were fairly high (try 216 over 160! 120 over 80, god how I used to fantasise about that) and as such therepy was the immediate no brainer in the first instance but once that came under control and the levels dropped it was possible to look at other complimentary measures to run alongside the tablets.One year down the line from my initial diagnosis and the BP levels were manageable, I had managed to lose some weight. I could have lost the weight sooner but my self discipline for diet has always been awful but again, I digress.Increased exercise was the next part of the rehabilitation plan and though I had always been keen on walking and getting outside for exercise, again my lousy self discipline always managed to get in the way of any constructive resolution.This whole narrative might sound like the immediate problem was my own lack of self will and discipline and in many ways that is true. I admire those fanatical enthusiasts who can be seen pounding the streets at 6.30 am every day before they go off to work. My own view on this has always been to try and incorporate some form of longer lasting therapy that in my case was more self sustainable allowing for my own weaknesses.Now the question may be asked at this point is how serious was I about getting my HBP down and under manageable levels? I have never been more serious about anything else in my life as to be totally honest I am not too wild about departing this mortal coil well before my anointed time.My own view on this whole exercise was that my "anti HBP regime" had to be able to be sustainable AND scaleable therefore meaning that lifestyle / approach would still be on track if I found myself laid up with any form of illness and /or accident.So, increased exercise as well as change of diet, eating, work habits etc was the order of the day.Hence we find our self with the situation with a dog. Having lived with dogs all throughout my childhood, I was aware of the companionship that my son would feel if we had one for our family but also I was keenly aware of the responsibility that comes along with having a dog!They need feeding, looking after and......plenty of exercise.Now we are the proud owners of a Black Labrador / Border collie first cross 50 lbs of fun, fur and mayhem called Elmo. He specialises in all of the things that dogs do best. He eats as much as he can get his paws on, he then makes sure that as much as possible is then manufactured out the other end as often as possible and in the most inconsiderate of places! He chews anything and everything he can get his jaws round, nothing is safe, nothing is sacred and one of these days my eight year old son will get the message not to leave toys lying around the place unattended.Lastly he is demanding about being taken out and this is where we find the missing link in my Anti HBP Therapy! As the day goes by his whole demeanour and attitude becomes more intense until finally if you haven't got the hint by evening time he enters into what can only be described by US Sports Commentators as his "Hurry up Offence". He comes and sits in front of you, rests his head on your legs and doesn't move. He just looks at you with that expression that makes it perfectly clear that either it is exercise time or he is going to leave large amounts of salivia all over your trousers, shorts, anything in fact that you happen to be wearing at the time!With a persuasive argument like that it is difficult to refuse and hence I find my High Blood Pressure reducing to manageable proportions, my weight dropping and I am also now in the position of being able to review and reduce (in certain cases) the level of medication that I need to help control my blood pressure.

high blood pressure natural remedies

Are you looking for bloodpressure natural remedies? Thousands of high blood pressure sufferers have turned away from dangerous and expensive medication and taken up healthier lifestyles to lower their pressure. Natural remedies focus on diet, exercise and managing stress in your life. There are no side effects except positive ones like losing weight and building a stronger immune system.
While a natural remedy is a whole body cure requiring changes in lifestyle, there are some quick ways to kick start you battle against hypertension. Here are a few fast ways to get results quickly.
Apple Cider Vinegar has absolutely amazing impact on your BP. Make sure you get raw ACV with the goo, or Mother, in the bottom of the bottle. Distilled apple cider vinegar will not work. Start out with three teaspoons a day just before your meal. Mix a teaspoon with about a half glass of water to prevent acidosis. After two or three days, increase the dose to three tablespoons. By the end of the week you will see a significant drop in BP.
Water is another great quick way to lower blood pressure. Hydration flushes out salt and softens the blood vessels allowing them to expand with the heartbeat and thereby lowering pressure. Drink half your body weight, expressed in ounces, each day. So if you weigh 170 pounds, drink 85 ounces of water or about 11 glasses a day.
. Brisk walking, biking or swimming laps will get your heart rate up and your blood pressure will come down. This is the fastest way to lower pressure but the effect only lasts about 22 hours so you have to do it daily.
A total natural remedy involves much more of course but these will get you started in the right direction. Reducing blood pressure naturally is far superior to taking drugs. It’s your body and you need to take responsibility for living a longer healthier life.

High Blood Pressure And Salt Is It Essential

The answer to this question is fairly obvious is it not?Sodium Chloride (the chemical name for Salt, the culinary cooking condiment not the International Treaty on Weapons limitation) is an essential element in the life of human beings. Most people think of Salt purely in terms of that little white food seasoning found in shakers on virtually very food table the world over.Salt was of crucial importance in Ancient times as part of the economic transactions over slaves, hence the phrase Not worth his Salt. Wars have been fought over Salt supplies and certainly the capture of a national Salt supply has certainly played an important part in the nature of military campaigns.Salt has inspired literature and many of the more semi philosophical sayings of today (To be taken with a pinch of salt, Salt of the Earth etc) come from a fascination with Salt.References to salt can be found in one of the worlds oldest published reference books, the Chinese book The Peng-Tzao-Kan-Mu. For an ancient text and one that almost dates prehistory the book describes in almost eerie detail two processes of extracting salt that are very much in use still today.The actual requirement for the average Western Adult male is surprisingly small at 250 mg of sodium yet we still seem so addicted with the substance that the average consumption is almost 700 percent greater. So it comes as no surprise that Salt as a single substance is not only vitally important to our well being but also as one single substance probably causes us more harm than any other single substance (along with sugar).With an approach to the consumption of Salt that almost borders an epidemic in that our consumption far outstrips our need as we consume on average some 3500 mg per day. This is still more than 7 times the amount actually required and goes some way to emphasise our dependency on this white granular substance.So if this substance tastes so good how can it actually be so bad for us? Well as the Chinese have said over the past 2500 years or so, too much Salt hardens the pulse i.e. it makes the arteries harden and this can lead to High Blood Pressure. The connection between excessive consumption of Salt and Hypertension has been well documented over the years and is as reliable as one could ever expect.Does not everyone need to consume salt in order to survive? Salt is one of those substances that you could almost connect with virtually all of our external and internal bodily functions. With regards to our metabolism, Sodium helps assist the cells in our intestines in absorbing food and lastly, with sodium, the muscles in your body would not be able to contract and therefore we would not be able to move.So the sad aspect to the whole subject is that it is very much a case of too much of a good thing will cause you harm.It would appear that in this case the overall approach has got to be moderation in all things.

Alternative Blood Pressure Treatment: The Hawthorn Option

Every year millions of people are diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure, and millions more develop it without ever being diagnosed. If you are someone trying to cope with high blood pressure, you know that it is not as simple as finding a safe and effective medication, and returning to business as usual. You realize that your doctor and/or pharmacist can advise you on an appropriate medication. You, however, are more interested in an alternative blood pressure treatment.Your big concern with the traditional high blood pressure medications is that they all put you at risk of side effects, even if they are simultaneously lowering your blood pressure. You do not want to trade one known health problem for a possible host of other unknown ones. Finding an alternative blood pressure treatment to replace your medicating will relieve you of the side effects issue, but if the natural treatment you choose is not effective, you will be back where you started. And natural treatments, if taken in excess for a lengthy period, can cause severe health issues of their own.But if you have done you homework, and researched the safety of the various alternative blood pressure treatments, you probably know that one of the safest and most effective is hawthorn. Hawthorn has long been used in Europe and Asia as an alternative high blood pressure treatment, and recent scientific research has verified its efficacy. For more info see http://www.lower-highbloodpressure.com/Blood_Pressure_Machine/ on Blood Pressure Machine.How Hawthorn WorksHawthorn reduces blood pressure by inhibiting an enzyme, angiotensin-converting enzyme, or ACE, which constricts the blood vessels. The newly dilated blood vessels let blood circulate more freely, reducing the blood pressure. Hawthorn also has a mild diuretic action, which decreases the volume of the blood, again lowering blood pressure. As an alternative blood pressure treatment, hawthorn has a double kick.Implementing Other Measures If your blood pressure reading is in the 140/90 to 160/100 range, but your overall health is good, you can discuss with your doctor the possibility of giving a hawthorn supplement a chance as an alternative blood pressure treatment. Even if he or she agrees, you will have to implement other lifestyle changes, like adjusting your diet to include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. You'll also have to cut back on salt, caffeine, and fats, and increase your daily intake of water to one-half ounce for every pound of your body weight. If you use alcohol and tobacco, stop, and if you don't walk for between thirty and forty-five minutes a day, start. An alternative blood pressure treatment, if it is to work, requires a commitment from you.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms Are Not Always Visible

It is true that high blood pressure symptoms are not always visible to the eye but this does not mean that there are not obvious signs to look out for. Having this condition can affect both men and women at any time. It can occur more commonly in people who smoke, are over weight, live a high stressed existence, do not regularly exercise and do not eat healthy. If you are someone like this then you are known of as a high risk. I suggest you go to your doctor for a check up now!
If this is the case for you and you are diagnosed with this condition then you are at risk of a heart attack, stroke and even kidney disease. All of these can be fatal! In saying this, it doesn't mean things cannot be reversed. Yes you can do something about this! First off you need to see your doctor to check out these high blood pressure symptoms or signs. Once you have been told that you are in the high catergory then you may need to go on medication straight away to bring it down. Once on medication though, you usually stay on it. You should try to avoid this.
Taking medication in itself maybe ok as it helps lower you blood pressure, which is important, but what you should be doing is trying to get it down by living a healthier lifestyle. Lose weight, quit smoking, cut out added suger and salt, exercise and try to cut back on stress. Ok, so the stress factor may be harder than you think but once you are healthier you will also feel better in other ways as well.
Some people have been known to show some form of symptom that can include fatigue, dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, nausea but of course these could also be signs of many other conditions. So I suppose the one important thing to remember apart from keeping fit and healthy is regularly visiting your doctor. Having check ups to keep on top of things. It isn't just high blood pressure symptoms that should be a concern to you but many other factors that can contribute to bad health. This is true especially as we age. Check ups and preventative measures are always the best option to living a full healthy life.
As I said before many people won't know that they have high blood pressure as it is not a major visible condition but there are signs to look out for that can contribute to this. Take a good look at yourself and your life style and please go to the doctors for regular check ups. Life is too important to let slip away just because we live busy lives. Our work and families deserve us to be healthy.

High Blood Pressure - A New Approach To Treatment

High blood pressure causes major health problems for many people around the world and work goes on all the time to improve the monitoring and control of blood pressure in patients who have the condition. A new study has shown that pharmacists may be very good at keeping an eye on the BP levels in groups of selected patients. A new bit of internet software and a secure Web interface helped control BP in a group of about three thousand American patients. Those with high BP are at risk of stroke or heart attack if the problem is not brought under better control. Both stroke and heart attack can lead to either early death or a severe deterioration in the quality of life. Smoking, diabetes and a high cholesterol level are also commonly found in those people with high BP and the combination of these factors is extremely dangerous if not dealt with properly. Many people with hypertension / high BP need to take medication on a daily basis. Sometimes just one tablet a day is enough but in many cases it needs a combination of BP tablets and some medication to lower the cholesterol level too. All of this can result in side effects due to the interactions of the BP drugs with each other and with any other medication that the patient is taking. Almost all of those who take regular blood pressure medications will experience drug related side effects of one sort or another. Common side effects are fatigue, cough and - in men - problems with a loss of sex drive and a loss of sexual arousal due to the BP meds.Hypertension (the other name for high blood pressure) is often poorly controlled and BP levels often run high even in those who are on medication every day. Research done previously has shown benefit by adding input from a nurse or pharmacist into the patients care pathway.The research used a home BP monitor with the results supervised by a pharmacist - the patients fed their results into a secure web based form and the pharmacist reviewed the readings and worked closely with each patient. The group studied were all adults between 25 and 75 - all had poorly controlled hypertension but were otherwise well.The patients were divided randomly into three groups: group one had their usual care; group two had home BP monitoring and secure patient Web services training only but no pharmacist input and group three had the full package of home BP monitoring and Web training plus pharmacist care management delivered through Web communications. The results showed that there was no real difference in BP readings in the two groups who did not have a pharmacist looking after them - both groups saw no real change in their BP control. But the group with the pharmacy input saw much better results. Fifty percent of the patients developed readings that were normal when they had previously been high all the time. It looks like Web-based pharmacy care of people with hypertension is feasible and can improve BP control and I suspect we may see a lot more of this kind of thing in the future

If You Have High Blood Pressure Lower Your Cholesterol

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, being over weight, inactive lifestyles and smoking are high risk factors regarding heart attacks and strokes. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure it's strongly recommended that you lower your cholesterol level as part of a plan to prevent a heart attack and a stroke from occurring. You can lower your cholesterol level by eating healthy foods and avoiding fatty foods. If an improved diet has not sufficiently lowered your cholesterol level your doctor might recommend you take some medication that is designed to reduce cholesterol. Let's look at some changes you can make to your diet in order to lower your cholesterol level.If you have high blood pressure, in order to reduce your cholesterol level you should avoid or reduce the amount of red meat you consume and stay away from sausages and bacon. Avoid foods that contain saturated fats and if you are going to consume dairy products select products that are low in fat. Avoid using lard in your meals and if you are going to use oils select polyunsaturated oils or monounsaturated oils. Avoid or significantly reduce the amount of baked foods you eat such as pastry items and biscuits which are typically high in fat. Don't use margarines or oils that include trans fatty acids.Healthy DietIf you have high blood pressure and you have been eating a healthy diet and you still have a high cholesterol problem your doctor might want you to take some medications such as statins. They work by changing the activity of the enzymes located in the liver in order to prevent the liver from producing cholesterol. Some people have high cholesterol partially due to heredity and they may need the help of statins. If you have been diagnosed with heart disease your doctor might recommend statins to lower your cholesterol level.Soluble FiberIf you have high blood pressure there are some food items that can help you reduce your high cholesterol level. Oatmeal can decrease you bad cholesterol (LDL) due to the soluble fiber in oatmeal. Soluble fiber can also be added to your diet by including items such as kidney beans, apples, brussel sprouts, barley, pears, psyllium as well as prunes.Niacin is the closest thing available to a perfect treatment that corrects most causes of coronary heart disease. Niacin blocks the release of fatty acids from fat cells. Niacin plays a critical role in energy production, gene expression, and hormone synthesis. You cannot live without it. Niacin also tends to shift LDL particle distribution to larger particle size and improve HDL functioning. The intake of 3 grams Niacin for as little as two weeks can reduce serum cholesterol by 26 percent.Some studies have concluded that adding walnuts to your diet can significantly lower your blood cholesterol level. Walnuts are filled with polyunsaturated fats and walnuts also have the ability to keep your blood vessels in a healthy condition and keep them elastic. Don't eat too many walnuts a day since nuts are high in calories and weight gain increases your chances of acquiring heart disease. Also add some omega three fatty acids to your diet since they have been shown in studies to lower the risk of heart disease. Certain fish, walnuts, flaxseed, soybean oil as well as canola oil contain omega three fatty acids. If you have high blood pressure it's important not to have a high cholesterol level.

A survey concludes that out of every 3 people of United States adults have high blood pressure. High blood Pressure (BP) has no particular symptoms and thus it results that most of the people even don’t know that they are having High BP. High blood pressure increases your chance of getting heart disease and kidney disease also heart stroke.
This condition is especially dangerous because it often has no warning signs or symptoms. Sometimes race, age, or gender, anyone can develop high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. You can prevent and control high blood pressure by taking action quickly.
Risk factors
High blood pressure has another name and this is a ‘silent killer’ as this condition kills a person very quietly many a time without even knowing it. If you are having high BP along with daily habits of eating too much salt, smoking, drinking and not doing exercises can prove risky. Some medical conditions are sometime responsible for high blood pressure. Kidney disease, renal artery narrowing, sleeping apnea and Cushing’s disease can be responsible for producing high blood pressure.
Symptoms
Most of the people don’t visit their doctor until they receive symptoms of any disease. Regular medical checkup can prove helpful in that specific condition but the damage of organ seen in the person who is caused by high blood pressure. Heart attack, heart failure, kidney infection, and loss of vision and eye damage can be seen in the patients of high BP.
Treatment of high BP
If you are caused by high blood pressure you must seek these treatments, as they can prove helpful in providing relief to the patient. Many people have lowered their blood pressure by changing the lifestyle and the conditions may be weight loss, doing more exercises, but you can get relief by taking medication to keep blood pressure controlled.

Causes of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a big problem around the world. Many people are given a diagnosis of high blood pressure and have no idea how they received the condition. For starters, it’s good to understand that there are two different types of high blood pressure: secondary high blood pressure, and primary high blood pressure. Each type is caused by a different thing.Secondary high blood pressure can be caused by a number of things. For starters, it can happen in chronic kidney disease. Any sort of disease of the adrenal gland will also cause high blood pressure, as will any tumor. These cause high blood pressure because your body is trying to react and fix the problem, but is unable to. If you were born with a narrowing in the aorta of your heart, you can have high blood pressure. One of the side-effects of using birth control pills is that you may wind up with high blood pressure. Pregnancy can also cause high blood pressure, which can bring on a condition called pre-eclampsia. If you have primary high blood pressure, there is a good chance that your doctor will have no idea why you have it. In over 90% of people with primary high blood pressure, doctors do not know what caused the condition. There are some risk factors, however, that can point to a higher risk of having high blood pressure. Men tend to get high blood pressure more than women do, and those who are overweight also tend to suffer with high blood pressure. As you grow older, your arteries harden and you have a much higher chance of having high blood pressure, and if you have a family history of high blood pressure, you are much more likely to have the condition