A diet high in cholesterol, fat, sodium or salt, contributes to the development of high blood pressure and heart disease. Foods that are high in cholesterol increase the amount of cholesterol in the body to levels that are too high for the body to use. A high fat diet causes an increase in fat in the blood called triglyceride, which also acts to obstruct or slow down the flow of blood through the vessels. LDL causes fatty patches or plaques to be deposited inside blood vessels and causes the vessels to narrow, reducing blood flow to the heart, brain and other vital organs. Foods that are high in salt or sodium cause the body to retain fluid and thus increase blood pressure.
Smoking is a very strong risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Smokers have twice the risk of sudden cardiac death and three times the risk of stroke as non-smokers. Smoking causes the adrenal gland to release a hormone that temporarily raises blood pressure and causes the heart to work harder. The carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke also replaces some of the oxygen in the blood, which reduces the oxygen available to the heart, brain and other body organs. Excessive use of alcohol may be a risk factor for heart attack and stroke because of its effect on raising blood pressure. Even one ounce of hard liquor daily will raise the blood pressure.