(Hypertension)
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- What is high blood pressure?
- Symptoms of high blood pressure
- Causes of high blood pressure
- Prevention of high blood pressure
- Risk factors for high blood pressure
- Complications of high blood pressure
- When to see a doctor about high blood pressure
- Diagnosis of high blood pressure
- Conventional treatment of high blood pressure
- Alternative/complementary treatment of high blood pressure
- Living with high blood pressure
- Caregiving for someone with high blood pressure
Risk factors for high blood pressure
Research shows that there are some risk factors associated with the development of high blood pressure, some of which are preventable and others which are not preventable.
Risk factors that are unpreventable:
- Age - while anyone at any age can develop high blood pressure, studies show that older people are more likely to be at risk for developing high blood pressure. Statistics show that more than half the population in Australia that is over 65 has high blood pressure (similar statistics hold for the USA, Canada and the UK)
- Certain medications - some prescription drugs (and also non-prescription ones) such as antihistamines, cold and flu drugs, decongestants (especially if they contain pseudoephedrine) can raise blood pressure temporarily. If these medications are taken long-term, they can increase blood pressure long term too
- Family history - people with a mother or father with high blood pressure have a higher risk of developing it than people whose parents do not have hypertension. People with two parents that have high blood pressure have a much higher risk of developing it too. While it is known that people can inherit the disposition to develop high blood pressure from one or both of their parents, this does not necessarily mean that high blood pressure will develop in every case, as it seems that other factors also need to be present to trigger it
- Gender - men generally have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure (although women are quickly catching up with this risk)
- Sodium sensitivity - many people with high blood pressure (just under 50%) are sensitive to the effects that salt (sodium chloride) has on their blood pressure. These people's blood pressure increases dramatically (to higher than normal levels) when they consume foods high in sodium (salt) and these are normally processed foods, take-away foods and fast foods. For some people, excessive amounts of salt in their diet is a risk factor that leads to the development of hypertension
- Type 1 diabetes - people with diabetes have a much higher risk of developing high blood pressure. Studies show that about 70% of all people with diabetes have high blood pressure and many of these people do not even that they have high blood pressure
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Risk factors that are mostly preventable:
- Body fat - when body fat is centered around the middle of the body, the stomach area, often called an "apple" body shape, is a much higher risk for developing high blood pressure
- Contraceptive pill - some women develop high blood pressure when they take the contraceptive birth control pill. This only happens to some women, taking some forms of the contraceptive pill
- Drinking alcohol - studies show that people who drink a lot of alcohol on a regular basis can develop high blood pressure. This is because of the adverse effect that excessive alcohol consumption can have on the body
- Excessive stress - when people are exposed to high levels of stress, their body often reacts to it with a slight increase in blood pressure. When stress is chronic (there is no respite), this can cause the parasympathetic nervous system to react by causing the rise in blood pressure on a continuous basis. Stress that is not controlled is a risk factor for the development of high blood pressure in some individuals
- Inactivity - a lack of exercise is very detrimental to health and can contribute to weight gain and subsequent development of high blood pressure in some individuals
- Obesity - people who are obese are at a much higher risk of developing high blood pressure because of the pressure that their extra weight causes on the blood vessels in their body and on the heart. The heart has to beat extra hard to push the blood through the blood vessels that are being constricted by the extra fat that surrounds them
- Smoking cigarettes - studies show that people who smoke cigarettes are at an increased risk for developing high blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes - people with diabetes have a much higher risk of developing high blood pressure. Studies show that about 70% of all people with diabetes have high blood pressure and many of these people do not even that they have high blood pressure
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< 4:prevention 6:complications > Last reviewed: 10 January 2009 || Last updated: 24 February 2010
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
