Here’s why your BP is so high: Blame it on your selfish brain

The “Selfish Brain” theory describes the characteristic of the human brain to cover its own, comparably high energy requirements with the utmost of priorities when regulating energy fluxes in the organism. The brain behaves selfishly in this respect. The "Selfish brain" theory amongst other things provides a possible explanation for the origin of obesity, the severe and pathological form of overweight. Earlier this week, I was diagnosed with hypertension. My hypertension was borderline, but the doctor chose to put me on low-dose angiotensin II receptor blocker drug to relax my blood vessels to bring down my blood pressure to a healthy 120/80 mmHg. Uncontrolled hypertension, like diabetes, is a risk factor for a clutch of diseases, including heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. Globally, 62% of stoke and 49% of heart disease are linked to hypertension, defined as consistently high blood pressure of more than 140/90 mmHg. There is no apparent physiological cause for my hypertension and there is little I can do to bring it down on its own. I don’t smoke, my weight is perfect for my height, my cholesterol is optimal, my sugar levels are fine, my kidneys are healthy, I don’t care for salted snacks, I’m not on any prescription medicines, I’m not particularly stressed, and I’m fairly active. I have what is called essential hypertension because it has no known cause. I’m told it is genetic, which is highly likely because my dad’s been a hypertensive for as long as I can remember yet continues to be sprightly and active at close to 80.