What Causes Hypertension?

People of any age, race or gender can develop hypertension (high blood pressure), which increases the risk of chronic and potentially life-threatening health conditions. Many factors that promote high blood pressure are within your control, such as level of physical activity, stress and what you eat, but other factors are not changeable, such as older age and genetics. Consider these facts from the Mayo Clinic about the causes of hypertension.

Age

• Your blood pressure goes up as you get older, which is a normal part of aging and can contribute to developing hypertension.

Family History

• Some families may have a genetic susceptibility to developing hypertension, and having a parent, grandparent or sibling with hypertension can increase your risk.

Sodium

• Sodium, or table salt, can make your body hold in water, which increases the volume of blood in your body and results in hypertension when consumed in amounts more than 2,300 mg per day.

Smoking

• Smoking tobacco products makes the openings of your blood vessels get smaller, which raises your blood pressure levels.

Sedentary Lifestyle

• A sedentary (inactive) lifestyle makes your heart work harder to pump blood through your body and increases pressure inside the blood vessels.

Stress

• Chronic emotional or physical stress, or an acute episode of stress, such as a sudden death in your family, can cause hypertension.

Drugs

• Certain medications and illegal drugs can cause hypertension, including decongestants, birth control pills, cocaine and amphetamines.