The cause of high blood pressure is unknown but several factors can increase your risk of developing the condition.

Factors that can raise your risk of developing primary hypertension include:

1. Age – the risk of developing high blood pressure increases as you get older
2. A lack of exercise
3. A high amount of salt in your food
4. Smoking
5. Being overweight or obese
6. Drinking large amounts of alcohol

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to:

High blood pressure can cause hardening and thickening of the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other complications.

Trouble with memory or understanding: Uncontrolled high blood pressure may also affect your ability to think, remember and learn. Trouble with memory or understanding concepts is more common in people with high blood pressure.

Aneurysm: Increased blood pressure can cause your blood vessels to weaken and bulge, forming an aneurysm. If an aneurysm ruptures, it can be life-threatening.

Heart failure: To pump blood against the higher pressure in your vessels, your heart muscle thickens. Eventually, the thickened muscle may have a hard time pumping enough blood to meet your body’s needs, which can lead to heart failure.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment at Spinewise where we can check your spine for subluxation that could be causing high blood pressure call or email us. We’ll be happy to help you to explore chiropractic care as a natural option for reduction of hypertension.