7 Things That Surprisingly Cause High Blood Pressure (your doctor never told you)

If you are suffering from high blood pressure, chances are your doctor has told you to stay away from the normal “causes”- salt (which gets a bad rap), anger, and obesity.

But there are some other causes that might be more to blame than simply being overweight or eating too much salt.

You may have had a conversation with your physician that went something like this: While handing you a prescription for hypertension (high blood pressure) he or she says to cut out salt and try to relax.

Then you are sent on your merry way to battle a stubborn and potentially deadly condition with nothing more than a scrap of paper you trade in at the pharmacy for pills that carry their own dangerous side effects.

Consider, though, that just cutting salt and shedding a few pounds may not be enough- there are more sneaky culprits that affect your blood pressure’s high numbers than you might consider.

Disease- This is a stressor that is considered biological. You may not have started with high blood pressure, but due to thyroid disease, diabetes, COPD, or other chronic conditions, the body reacts to the stress by increasing blood pressure. Getting other biological processes under control can go a long way to eliminating hypertension.

Here’s how to beat type 2 diabetes in 3 easy steps…

Sleep Apnea/Insomnia- This is another biological stressor, but not necessarily due to disease. Muscles weaken as we age and those in the head, neck, and throat area can cause snoring and sleep apnea. Trouble falling asleep and staying asleep also spike blood pressure over time, so it’s critical to get these disturbances under control.

Easy, 3-minute exercise, completely cures snoring and sleep apnea…

Here is a simple trick to fall asleep and sleep through the night…

Medication- This is prescribed to ‘cure’ problems, not to cause them. But there are a vast number of medications that can seriously impact your blood pressure. Cold medications, for instance, are notorious for doing this. When you can, opt for natural solutions to what ails you and put down the pill bottles.

Sugar- It is quickly becoming apparent through various research studies that salt may not be the bad guy it’s been made out to be. As it turns out, eliminating excess sugar, especially in sweets, sodas, and processed foods, has a much higher likelihood of dropping blood pressure than eliminating salt- which is actually a needed nutrient. Too much sugar is also considered a biological stressor.

Processed food/packaging- Everyone needs water to survive, and filtered, clean water is best. However, water that is bottled in products that use BPA, or Bisphenol A, may not be the best way to go. Countless studies published in medical journals by dozens of medical institutions have exposed the clear link between BPA and hypertension. Packaged food can also be exposed to BPA, not to mention the chemicals that give it a “shelf life.” Eliminate the packaging and go fresh.

Environment- This type of stress can include anything from too much noise near your home or office to the hot tub you dip into in order to relax. The irony with tubs and saunas is that they are used to eliminate stress, not increase it. The body likes homeostasis- 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, peace and quiet, no pollutants. Use caution when spending time in tubs, near tobacco smokers, or anywhere you need earplugs.

Solitude- While everyone needs time away from the world and emotional stress from time to time, studies have shown that people who are always alone and those who would consider themselves as “lonely” share a common problem- higher blood pressure. Humans are social animals, and tend to survive better and have healthier lives when they involve other people. Not all people are good for you, though, so limit your dealings with emotional stress-causers to as few interactions as possible.

What’s the one thing the items in this unlikely list have in common? Stress!

Whether it is sensory, environmental, biological, emotional, or psychological, stress is the key source and cause of all high blood pressure problems.

The good news is that you can eliminate it completely and get healthy in just minutes a day using nothing but these 3 easy exercises, anyone can do…