Risk Factors That Predispose Someone to Hypertension

According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, approximately one in three adults in the United States suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the amount of pressure blood exerts on the artery walls as it flows throughout the body. Several risk factors can lead to a permanent increase in blood pressure.

Age

• The risk of high blood pressure increases with age. The NHLBI states that men over the age of 45 and women over the age of 55 are more likely to develop high blood pressure.

Weight

• Being overweight or obese increases the amount of blood needed to circulate oxygen to the body tissues. While a specific weight doesn't indicate a risk, body mass index (BMI) may help determine if a person is within the statistical limits for a healthy weight for their age and height.

Race

• Both NHLBI and Mayo Clinic agree that African Americans are more likely to develop high blood pressure than either Caucasians or Hispanic Americans. African Americans are also more susceptible to heart/blood pressure-related diseases such as stroke, coronary artery disease and kidney failure. According to WebMD, research has yet to give a definitive answer. However, a higher incidence of hypertension in African Americans may be because of genetics, environment, or a combination of both. Physicians and scientists do know that African Americans respond differently to high blood pressure medicines and that Africans who live a traditional lifestyle have lower incidences of high blood pressure than their American counterparts.

Gender

• According to the American Heart Association, before the age of 45, men are more likely than women to develop high blood pressure. Between the ages of 45-54, the risk for both sexes seems to equalize. After 55, however, women are more likely to develop high blood pressure. This is possibly because of the onset of menopause. Unfortunately, no clear cut reason exists for why men are more susceptible before the age of 45.

Excercise Habits

• People who exercise infrequently or not at all are at higher risk for high blood pressure. In part, this goes back to obesity, since people who exercise less are more likely to be overweight. Exercise also relates to the function of the heart. The heart is a muscle and if it is not exercised it and its arteries can become diseased causing. According to the Mayo Clinic, inactive persons have higher heart rates and the harder the heart works to pump blood the more strain the greater the strain on the arteries.

Eating Habits

• Diets high in sodium and low in potassium can increase blood pressure. Also, drinking alcohol can temporarily raise your blood pressure and chronic use of alcohol can lead to extended periods of high blood pressure.

Stress

• While stress does cause temporary spikes in high blood pressure, the Mayo Clinic states that the long-term effects of these spikes is unclear.

Pre-existing Conditions

• Persons diagnosed with heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease and/or sleep apnea have an increased risk of high blood pressure.

Family History

• If your family has a history of high blood pressure or heart disease, this increases your risk of developing high blood pressure as well.