Specific Risk Factors of Hypertension

The following risk factors for hypertension below include age, race, heredity, sex, obesity, stress, smoking, lack of exercise and diabetes:

1. Age: High blood pressure is more likely in men over 35 and in women over 45.

2. Race: African Americans are more likely to develop hypertension than Caucasians and Hispanics develop hypertension more often than Caucasians.

3. Heredity: Hypertension runs in some families. A person is 45% more likely to have high blood pressure if both parents have it; 28% if one parent has it, and 30% if one sibling is affected. When one person has hypertension, everyone in the family should have their blood pressure checked regularly.

4. Sex: Men are more likely to have high blood pressure than women until women become menopausal, when the rate of hypertension exceeds that of men.

5. Obesity: For every 10 pounds of weight gain, blood pressure goes up three to four points. Blood pressure drops when a person loses weight.

6. Stress: Stress raises heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the workload on the heart. People under stress develop more cardiovascular diseases compared to those who are able to manage stress in their lives.

7. Smoking: Cigarette smoking significantly increases the risk of hypertension and blood pressure related illnesses leading to sudden death.

8. Lack of Exercise: Inactivity leads to weight gain and reduced circulation. Exercise helps to strengthen the blood vessels and reduce blood pressure.

9. Diabetes: Approximately half of all diabetics develop hypertension. When a diabetic has high blood pressure their risk of heart attack, stroke. kidney failure
and blindness all increase.

source:weblog.signonsandiego.com