Source : https://health.clevelandclinic.org
When your blood pressure levels are above normal and not in a healthy way, you are said to be suffering from high blood pressure or hypertension. This is a chronic condition that needs consistent and close monitoring to ensure you keep up with it. You need to ensure that you keep your doctor’s appointments and get consistent readings on hospital use blood pressure monitors.
This will ensure that you get accurate reading each time and can be advised by your doctor effectively. However, there are times you’ll find that the blood pressure levels suddenly spike even when you don’t have a history of the condition. This is something that may happen to anyone mainly brought about by certain factors. Some of these factors include:
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Dehydration
Not taking enough water may appear to be something small that has no consequence especially at the moment. However, dehydration is real and it’s something that can easily morph into serious health conditions. It will not only affect your skin appearance but will also mess with other parts of your body. Dehydration easily results in a sudden spike in blood pressure, especially in severe cases.
Without enough water in your body, your blood vessels tend to tighten up making your blood pressure levels increase beyond normal. Additionally, your body’s survival instinct will result in kidneys not functioning as well seeing as your body wants to hold on to the little liquid it has. This goes further to disrupt the normal functions of the body and will keep the blood pressure levels quite high. However, to address this, just be sure to keep taking water now and then and your blood pressure will normalize.
Anxiety
Stress and anxiety have numerous effects on the body especially when it comes to our health and well-being. Anxiety is a major cause of sudden high blood pressure in people of different age groups. If the condition is left untreated it could result in hypertension and other health problems that will now need treatment. This is why you need to ensure that you seek treatment for anxiety and find ways to help you cope better with stress. Additionally, stress and anxiety result in a lack of sleep that will also contribute to the sudden spike in your blood pressure throughout the day.
White Coat Effect
There is a certain feeling or effect that comes with changing locations that may result in a spike in your blood pressure. This is especially common when going to your doctor’s appointment. You may have taken your readings accurately using your home use blood pressure monitor and get to the doctor only to find it a bit higher. This is caused by the white coat effect. It is more apparent in people who are anxious or afraid of doctor visits and all that the doctors represent. Whitecoat hypertension is not fatal given that it will subside once you are out of the doctor’s office but can be mistaken for hypertension. This is why you need to ensure that you can differentiate between the two to avoid any mistakes.
Sudden Pain
Experiencing sudden or acute pain in your body sends certain signals to your brain that results in a spike in blood pressure. This sudden spike in blood pressure is however not fatal given the fact that it subsides once the shock wears out. This should therefore not alarm you when your readings are high after experiencing some kind of pain.
Having to Pee
According to different studies, holding pee can result in a spike in blood pressure as time goes by. This is not a healthy practice mainly because it is uncomfortable and could result in other health problems. This is why it is advised that when you need to pee you should go ahead and do it. Avoid holding it in if you can to avoid any unwanted complications from something so trivial. This applies to both men and women and cuts across different age groups. It goes to show that a sudden blood pressure spike can be experienced by anyone despite their age or gender.
Talking
Talking is something that we engage in daily and can be a cause for sudden blood pressure spikes. This is not related to talking too much or too fast but rather focussing more on the emotions involved. If you are talking with anger and resentment you find that your blood pressure levels will increase significantly. To reduce this, take your time to cool down and find your happy place. This will ensure that your blood pressure level stabilizes to avoid any further complications.
Conclusion
Sudden high blood pressure is something that can be experienced by people of different ages and gender. It doesn’t necessarily target those with a history of high blood pressure only. There are a few reasons why this may occur and paying attention to them will leave you in a better position. You’ll be able to try to avoid instances that will make your blood pressure spike suddenly. Take your time to understand these causes and do what is necessary to avoid or control them.