Blood pressure rose in 2020, especially in women, study finds

The study did not directly examine the reasons for the spike, but Laffin said that many factors may have contributed to the increase in blood pressure last year. For people with diagnosed high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, they may have skipped regular doctor visits or have not regularly refilled their prescriptions. For other people, lifestyle factors, including poor sleep, poor food choices, increased alcohol consumption, and lack of regular exercise, may have contributed to the increase in blood pressure.