Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure

What Are the Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure?

Introduction

High blood pressure affects millions of people. Because it is usually silent until late in the disease, many people don't know that they have it. People with risk factors should be screened.

Essential Hypertension

Most cases of high blood pressure or hypertension due not have an identifiable and reversible cause. This type of blood pressure is called essential hypertension.

Risk Factors

Although the cause of essential hypertension is unknown, there are significant risk factors associated with it:

• Age: Your risk increases as you get older, especially if your blood vessels are “hard” from cholesterol. High blood pressure is uncommon in children.
• Race: High blood pressure occurs more often in African Americans. It also tends to occur earlier and more severely for them as well.
• Sex: In early adulthood and middle age, high blood pressure is more common in men. After 60 years old, it is more common in women.
• Family History: High blood pressure runs strongly in families. Although it is possible to be the only one in your family with it, it raises the concern that it is being caused by another disease (secondary hypertension).
• Diet: Some people have difficulty getting rid of salt or sodium. In sensitive people, too much salt or too little potassium can lead to high blood pressure. Also, for some people excessive alcohol can be a cause.
• Lifestyle: There is an increased risk associated with obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, and stress.
• Certain Diseases: Not including causes of secondary hypertension, there is an increased risk if you have high cholesterol or diabetes.