Risk factors for high blood pressure
High blood pressure is associated with many risk factors, some of them are:
Age: The risk of high blood pressure increases with advancing age. At the age above 60 it is very common to have blood pressure.
Family history: High blood pressure runs in the families. making children of affected parents more susceptible.
Obese: The more obese, the more blood needs to supply oxygen and nutrients to the tissue. The amount of blood flow through blood vessels increases in obese persons. As a result, the high pressure on the artery walls leads to hypertension.
Lack of exercise: People who are inactive in exercise or lack of physical activity increases the risk of being overweight.
Using tobacco: Smoking or chewing tobacco instantly increases the blood pressure. It is temporary, however the chemical in tobacco can damage the lining of the artery wall.
Taking much salt: Too much sodium in the diet can cause the body to retain fluid, which increases blood pressure.
Less amount of potassium: Potassium helps balance the amount of sodium in cells. A proper balance of potassium is essential for healthy living.
Drinking more alcohol: More or heavy drinking alcohol also damages the heart and liver. Alcohol addiction will increase blood pressure.
Stress: High levels of stress can lead to temporary increase in the blood pressure. Stressed related habits like eating more, drinking alcohol, bad habits need to be avoided.
Certain chronic conditions: Some chronic conditions may also increase the blood pressure like kidney disease, diabetes, and sleep apnea. Sometimes the pregnancy can also cause high blood pressure.