What are the risk factors for high blood pressure?
-
Dr. Ronald Mark Firth of Intermountain Healthcare answered:Here are the risk factors for high blood pressure:
Family history: High blood pressure tends to run in families.
Age: In general, the older you get, the greater your chance of having high blood pressure. The most common age for men to first develop high blood pressure is between the ages of 35 and 50—and for women, after menopause.
Race--especially African-American descent: African Americans have a higher risk for developing high blood pressure than any other ethnic group. Not only is high blood pressure more
common in this group, but it happens at an earlier age and is often more severe.
Inactivity: People who aren’t regularly active have a 20 to 50%
increased risk of developing high blood pressure.
Overweight and obesity: Excess weight puts a lot of extra stress on your heart and arteries. It not only raises your blood pressure, but makes you more prone to other diseases as well.
Diet: Many different elements of your diet can affect your blood pressure—including eating too much salt, drinking too much alcohol, and having a poor diet in general.
Smoking: Each time you smoke a cigarette, it causes an immediate and significant rise in your blood pressure. Over time, smoking can severely damage your blood vessels.
Stress: One of the ways your body responds to stress is by raising your blood pressure to handle the situation causing your stress. Unmanaged and ongoing stress can keep your blood pressure high.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulHere are the risk factors for high blood pressure: Family history: High blood pressure tends to run in families. Age: In general, the older you get, the greater your chance of having high blood pressure. The most common age for men to first... More -
Dr. Dianne Zwicke of Aurora Health Care answered:Knowing your risk factors is the first step in preventing and controlling high blood pressure. Risk factors include:
- Age -- The older you are, the greater your chance of getting high blood pressure.
- Heredity -- High blood pressure can run in the family.
- Race -- African Americans, for example, are more likely to have high blood pressure.
- Overweight -- People who are overweight or obese are more likely to get high blood pressure.
- Salt intake -- Too much sodium (salt) in the diet can increase blood pressure in some people.
- Alcohol intake -- Too much alcohol can increase blood pressure.
- Little exercise -- Lack of exercise can lead to being overweight and increase your risk for high blood pressure.
- Tobacco use -- Smoking increases your blood pressure within the first few minutes of use.
- Diabetes or other medical conditions -- Seven out of 10 people with diabetes have high blood pressure. High cholesterol, kidney disease, and sleep apnea also make you more likely to have high blood pressure.
- Stress -- Stress is hard to measure, but increased stress can lead to high blood pressure.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulKnowing your risk factors is the first step in preventing and controlling high blood pressure. Risk factors include: Age -- The older you are, the greater your chance of getting high blood pressure. Heredity -- High blood pressure can run in the... More -
Dr. Richard Browne of Carolinas HealthCare System answered:The higher your blood pressure, the harder your heart must pump to move blood through the vessels. Age, sex, and heredity can increase your chance of developing high blood pressure. Modifiable factors that affect blood pressure include smoking, being overweight, dietary habits, and lack of regular physical activity. Some combination of diet, exercise, and medication (if prescribed by your doctor) can control high blood pressure.The higher your blood pressure, the harder your heart must pump to move blood through the vessels. Age, sex, and heredity can increase your chance of developing high blood pressure. Modifiable factors that affect blood pressure include... More -
RealAge answered:The factors that make you more likely to have high blood pressure are advancing age, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, and obesity. However, for most people, the cause of hypertension is not really known and probably has more than one source.
The factors that make you more likely to have high blood pressure are advancing age, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, and obesity. However, for most people, the cause of hypertension is not really known and probably has more than one source.... More -
HealthyWomen answered:Although there are several risk factors for hypertension, family history is the primary one. If you have two immediate family members who developed high blood pressure before age 60, you have two times the risk, and your risk increases with each additional immediate family member who has high blood pressure.
African Americans and Hispanic Americans are more likely to develop high blood pressure than Caucasians. Studies find that having "Type A" qualities -- being very driven, being a perfectionist who doesn't cope well with stress or know how to relax and having a quick temper -- increases the risk of hypertension in men and may increase the risk for women.
Other risk factors for hypertension include:
- increasing age
- salt sensitivity
- obesity
- heavy alcohol consumption, defined as more than two drinks a day for men and more than one drink a day for women
- use of oral contraceptives
- an inactive lifestyle
- high uric acid levels (over 7 mg/ml of blood)
- regular smoking or use of smokeless-tobacco, like snuff or chewing tobacco
Although there are several risk factors for hypertension, family history is the primary one. If you have two immediate family members who developed high blood pressure before age 60, you have two times the risk, and your risk increases with... More
