Another name for what is commonly called high blood pressure, hypertension is a major global issue. The force the blood applies on the walls of veins, capillaries, and the like is called blood pressure. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the level of salt in diets has been affected by the progress of the processed food industry, causing an increase in hypertension. This increases the chances of heart diseases, strokes, and in quite a few cases, death.

Ideal blood pressure for the human body is 120/80, while anything over than 130/80 can be classified as hypertension. While completely capable of occurring on its own, causes can include stress and kidney diseases, among many others. As hypertension can lead to problems such as heart attack, strokes, and the like, the best way to combat high blood pressure is to make significant changes in lifestyle.

Causes of hypertension
While the definitive cause of hypertension remains a mystery, a significant amount of cases are due to pre-existing illness. Other than that, the factors that increase the risk of hypertension are:

• Age
  Increasing age brings along narrowing arteries and accumulation of plaque, making the body prone to high blood pressure. This usually occurs over the age of 60.

• Ethnicity
  It is found that cases of hypertension are high in certain ethnic groups. The definitive reason for this is unknown, making the fact that there are differences in lifestyles among various ethnic groups the only logical explanation.

• Weight
  People who are overweight or obese, especially due to the overconsumption of processed foods, can be at risk of hypertension .

• Alcohol/tobacco
  Consuming alcohol and tobacco can cause illnesses of the liver and lungs, among many others. This, in turn, can upset the balance of blood flow, opening the door to high blood pressure.

• Sex
  Even though having the same lifetime risk, men are found to be more susceptible to hypertension ever since adolescence than women.

• Existing illnesses
  As age progresses, illnesses like diabetes and high cholesterol can worsen and affect the flow of blood in the body, possibly causing high blood pressure.

Additional factors may include lack of physical activity, a diet with high amounts of salt, and low potassium intake, among many others.

Complications
Prolonged and high levels of blood pressure can cause massive damage, especially to the blood vessels and organs in the body. This can lead to the following complications:

• Heart attack
  Heart attacks can be caused by hardening of the arteries due to high blood pressure.

• Aneurysm
  Aneurysms can be defined as the formation of a bulge caused by the weakening of the artery walls. Uncontrolled levels of blood pressure can lead to the life-threatening situation of an aneurysm bursting.

• Heart failure
  Over time, the walls of the arteries and the heart thicken even more. In order to pump blood in this condition, the heart has to function harder and faster. Gradually, the thick muscles of the heart start to give out leading to heart failure.

• Dementia
  Dementia can be simply described as the improper functioning of the brain due to nerve cell damage. Caused by narrowing blood vessels, the brain receives a lower supply of blood that it needs, causing cognitive impairment.