It’s not you, but it could be aldosterone
High blood pressure has many causes
Still having high blood pressure after taking your medicine, staying active, and eating right is frustrating. But it’s important to remember that high blood pressure has many causes. Your blood pressure is controlled by multiple factors in the body. Because of this, many people need 2 or more medicines that work in different ways to help manage their blood pressure.
Multiple factors: explained
There are many factors that can affect blood pressure:
Water & salt balance:
How much your body holds on to
When there’s too much water and salt (sodium) in your bloodstream it can increase pressure on your blood vessels.
Blood vessel tension:
How stiff or relaxed your blood vessels are
Your blood vessels adjust by tightening and relaxing throughout the day. When they don’t relax as easily, it can increase your blood pressure.
The hormone that raises blood pressure
Aldosterone raises blood pressure by causing the body to hold on to extra salt and water.
Aldosterone is the blood pressure hormone that can be keeping your numbers high
See how aldosterone works
Tap the arrows below to understand how a hormone called aldosterone raises blood pressure
These are your kidneys and adrenal glands. The adrenal glands make a hormone called aldosterone that helps control blood pressure
Aldosterone makes your body hold on to salt and water,...
...which increases your blood pressure
Aldosterone can also cause inflammation of your heart and blood vessels
Aldosterone
Water
Sodium (salt)
Why add another pill?
When current medicines aren’t enough, another medicine that works differently may help.
Blood pressure is controlled in different ways in the body. For example, some medicines help remove extra water and salt, while others help your blood vessels relax.
Now, it is possible to directly target aldosterone.
