Why Your Blood Pressure Is High — And Natural Ways to Bring It Back Down

By Dr. Alyssa McPeak

High blood pressure seems to be everywhere these days. Nearly half of American adults have it, but here’s the truth: high blood pressure is not the problem—it's the signal. It’s your body’s built-in alarm system telling you something underneath the surface needs attention.

At Roots Wholistic Health, we don’t just medicate numbers. We look deeper. We ask why is your body raising your blood pressure in the first place? And more importantly—what can we do to support your body so it no longer needs to keep that number elevated?

Let’s break down the real root causes, the labs that actually matter, and natural options that help your body come back into balance.

💓 What Causes High Blood Pressure? The Real Root Causes

Your blood pressure rises for a reason. It’s your body’s way of compensating, protecting, and adapting.

Here are the most common underlying causes we see in practice:

1. Chronic Stress & Cortisol Dysregulation

Your stress response system is directly connected to your cardiovascular system. When stress is high:

• Cortisol spikes

• Blood vessels tighten

• Heart rate increases

• The nervous system stays in “fight or flight”

Your body raises blood pressure to help you “run from danger,” even when the danger is…emails, deadlines, or three toddlers yelling at once.

2. Insulin Resistance & Blood Sugar Imbalances

Blood sugar problems—often years before a diabetes diagnosis—are one of the most overlooked causes of hypertension.

• High insulin → retains sodium

• Retained sodium → higher fluid volume

• More fluid → higher blood pressure

If you struggle with stubborn weight, fatigue, sugar cravings, or belly fat, blood sugar may be the driver behind your elevated BP.

3. Inflammation

Inflammation makes blood vessels stiff and less responsive. Common sources include:

• Chronic stress

• Gut inflammation

• Environmental toxins

• Food sensitivities

• Poor sleep

Inflammation makes the heart work harder to push blood through a “stiffer” system.

4. Poor Gut Health & Microbiome Imbalances

Yes—the gut affects everything, including blood pressure.

A disrupted microbiome can trigger:

• Inflammation

• Nutrient deficiencies

• Hormonal imbalances

• Insulin resistance

All of these feed into higher blood pressure over time.

5. Mineral Imbalances

Low levels of key minerals make blood pressure harder to regulate:

• Magnesium (natural relaxer of vessels)

• Potassium (balances sodium)

• Calcium

• Sodium (yes, too little can also cause issues!)

If you have restless legs, cramp easily, or feel “wired but tired,” you may be mineral-depleted.

6. Hormone Imbalances

Women especially experience blood pressure changes with:

• Perimenopause + Menopause

• Postpartum

• Low estrogen

• High cortisol

• Thyroid dysfunction

Thyroid and sex hormones affect vascular tone, salt retention, and overall cardiac output.

7. Sleep Issues / Sleep Apnea

Lack of deep, restorative sleep increases:

• Blood pressure

• Inflammation

• Cortisol

• Insulin resistance

This combination is a fast track to elevated BP.

🔬Functional Medicine Testing to Find YOUR Personal Root Cause

Instead of guessing or just medicating the symptom, we run targeted testing to understand what’s driving your blood pressure.

Here’s what we look at:

1. Complete Thyroid Panel

TSH isn’t enough—we check:

• Free T3

• Free T4

• TPO antibodies

• Thyroglobulin

Thyroid impacts blood vessels, metabolism, and inflammation.

2. Salivary Cortisol Tests

Reveals stress patterns, adrenal fatigue, and cortisol curves.

• Tested multiple times throughout the day

• Measures your free, bioavailable cortisol

3. Basic Labs With Functional Ranges

• Vitamin D

• Lipid panel

• hsCRP (inflammation)

• Fasting insulin

• Glucose

• Hemoglobin A1C

• Electrolytes/minerals

4. Gut Testing (GI Map or GI Effects)

Looks for:

• Dysbiosis

• Candida

• Low Akkermansia

• Parasites

• Leaky gut

• Inflammation

Your gut and blood pressure are more connected than most people realize.

5. Mineral Testing

Blood or hair mineral analysis to evaluate:

• Magnesium

• Potassium

• Sodium balance

• Calcium

• Trace minerals

• Toxic heavy metals

🌿 Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure

Once we identify the why, we build a personalized plan. Here are the top functional medicine strategies:

1. Increase Magnesium

One of the most effective natural ways to relax blood vessels.

Best forms:

• Magnesium glycinate

• Magnesium malate

2. Balance Blood Sugar

Load your plate with protein, healthy fats, and veggies. Limit processed carbs, sugary drinks, and constant snacking.

When insulin drops, blood pressure often follows.

3. Support Your Stress Response

Calm your nervous system with:

• Breathwork

• Morning sunlight

• Walking

• Infrared sauna

• Massage therapy

• Chiropractic care

• Adaptogens (ashwagandha, rhodiola—used strategically)

4. Improve Gut Health

A healthy gut:

• Lowers inflammation

• Improves nutrient absorption

• Supports metabolism

• Reduces vascular stiffness

Add polyphenol-rich foods: berries, greens, colorful vegetables, green tea, pomegranate, cacao.

5. Optimize Minerals

Focus on:

• Potassium-rich foods (spinach, salmon, sweet potatoes, squash, coconut water)

• Quality sodium (not iodized salt)

• Magnesium supplements

• Trace minerals/eectrolytes in water

6. Move Daily

Short, consistent activity lowers BP more effectively than intense, inconsistent workouts.

Try:

• 30 minute brisk walks

• Strength training with body weight

• Light cycling

• Yoga or Pilates

7. Prioritize Sleep

Aim for 7–9 hours. If snoring or apnea is suspected, evaluate further—it’s a huge root cause of hypertension.

🌿 Final Thoughts

High blood pressure is a message, not a malfunction. Instead of silencing it with medication alone, we help you understand why your body feels the need to raise blood pressure—and what’s inflaming or stressing it on the inside.

With the right testing and a personalized plan, your body can absolutely return to balance.

If you're ready to uncover your root causes and take a natural, whole-body approach to blood pressure health, we’d love to help.

Schedule your functional medicine visit at Roots Wholistic Health today.