Salt and stress can affect your levels—but so can certain foods, drugs and drinks
People who monitor their blood pressure generally know the common factors that can cause their blood pressure to rise such as stress and excessive salt intake.
But some habits also can play a role, and undermine efforts to lower high blood pressure, or hypertension, a health condition that affects nearly half of adults in the United States.
May, National High Blood Pressure Education Month, is the perfect time to learn more about the factors that can cause a spike in blood pressure.
Here are 6 surprising factors that can send blood pressure levels soaring and can lead to other devastating health conditions.
1. Alcohol
Some research has shown that wine is good for the heart, but alcohol also can dramatically increase blood pressure levels.
While alcohol initially relaxes blood vessels, once the liver metabolizes it, those blood vessels begin to constrict. Blood pressure levels can remain at high levels the day after drinking.
If drinking becomes a daily or frequent habit, so will increased blood pressure numbers.
Women who are heavy drinkers, consuming more than three drinks a day, or men who enjoy more than four drinks a day can lower their top number in blood pressure readings by about 5.5 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury, a blood pressure measurement) and their bottom number by about 4 mm Hg, the Mayo Clinic reports.
2. Added sugar
Added sugar is common in cakes, cookies and soft drinks, but unless close attention is paid to food labels, it can hide in other foods such as breakfast cereals and yogurt. I
When we eat sugar, our bodies release insulin to help move sugar from the blood and into cells so it can be used for energy.
But in many people, insulin tends to drive up blood pressure, so if you’re consuming a lot of added sugar and simple carbohydrates such as fruit juice concentrate, brown sugar, corn syrup and high fructose corn will lead to intense and longer bursts of insulin, which can increase blood pressure.
3. Smoking
A proven risk of heart attack and stroke, smoking also can wreak havoc on blood pressure.
The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that nicotine is to blame. Nicotine causes the heart to beat faster and blood vessels to narrow, which can increase blood pressure.
Research shows that in a 24-hour period, blood pressure of smokers is higher than non-smokers.
4. Black licorice
Black licorice—the real root, not licorice-flavored candy—can be a health hazard. Not only because of its sugar content, an ingredient in the candy, glycyrrhizin, which is derived from the licorice root can cause the body to retain salt and water, which can drive up blood pressure.
Eating lots of black licorice can lead to low potassium levels and abnormal heart rhythms.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against eating large amounts of black licorice at a time.
The agency says eating just 2 ounces daily for at least two weeks could send adults ages 40 and older in the hospital.
5. Air pollution
Dust particles from roads and construction sites, and pollutants from car exhaust can cause an increase in blood pressure levels in adults. Studies show that air pollution also can affect children’s health.
University of Michigan researchers found that even short-term exposure to high levels of air pollution can spike blood pressure levels as much as gaining 5 or 10 pounds, the researchers noted.
Another University of Michigan study found that filtering the air can lower blood pressure. The study found that even in places where air pollution is high, exercise can lower high blood pressure.
Besides pollution from cars, traffic noise has been linked to high blood pressure levels.
6. Another little-known medical issue
High blood pressure can be caused by the overproduction of a hormone called aldosterone, which can make it difficult to control with medication.
People who have had a difficult time controlling their blood pressure with medication should consult with their physician because they could be experiencing a condition called primary aldosteronism. Many doctors miss it, and the condition can lead to other extensive health issues such as kidney disease or the thyroid gland.
The good news is that medications can control the condition once detected.
Increasing the amount of potassium with more fruits and vegetables can lower blood pressure.
Remember the usual suspects
Extra weight is one of the biggest drivers of high blood pressure in the U.S.
If you are overweight and need to shed extra pounds, losing even a few pounds can have a big impact on blood pressure.
The Mayo Clinic reports that shedding weight can reduce blood pressure by 1 mm Hg for every 2.2 pounds.
It’s important not to overlook the biggest drivers of high blood pressure in the U.S., chief of which is weight. If you’re overweight, losing even a few pounds can have a big impact on blood pressure. If you can reduce your numbers by 1 mm Hg for every 2.2 pounds you lose, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Consider what you’re eating. Americans consume about an average of 3,400 milligrams of sodium every day. The majority of that comes from restaurant meals and packaged foods. The American Heart Association says that number should be close to 1,500 mg.
What is high blood pressure?
| Category | Systolic Blood Pressure | Diastolic Blood Pressure |
| Normal | <120 mm Hg | <80 mm Hg |
| Elevated | 120-129 mm Hg | <80 mm Hg |
| Stage 1 Hypertension | 130-139 mm Hg | 80-89 mm Hg |
| Stage 2 Hypertension | ≥140 mm Hg | ≥90 mm Hg |
Source: CDC
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