Hypertension: Who is at Risk?
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, usually has no symptoms. In fact, many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. That's why it's called the “silent killer.” The American Heart Association reports one in three adults has high blood pressure, and nearly one-third of them don't know they have it.
The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. Your doctor or other qualified health professional should check your blood pressure at least once every two years, or more often if necessary. Optimal blood pressure with respect to cardiovascular risk is less than 120/80 mm Hg. However, unusually low readings should be evaluated to rule out medical causes.
A single elevated blood pressure reading doesn't mean you have high blood pressure, but it's a sign that further observation is required. Ask your doctor how often to check it or have it checked. Certain diseases, such as kidney disease, can cause high blood pressure. In 90 to 95 percent of cases, the cause of high blood pressure is unknown.
Factors that contribute to high blood pressure
Medical science doesn't understand why most cases of high blood pressure occur, so it's hard to say how to prevent it. However, we do know that several factors may contribute to high blood pressure and raise your risk for heart attack and stroke.
Controllable risk factors
- Obesity — People with a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or higher are more likely to develop high blood pressure.
- Eating too much salt — A high sodium intake increases blood pressure in some people.
- Drinking too much alcohol — Heavy and regular use of alcohol can increase blood pressure dramatically.
- Lack of physical activity — An inactive lifestyle makes it easier to become overweight and increases the chance of high blood pressure.
- Stress — This is often mentioned as a risk factor, but stress levels are hard to measure, and responses to stress vary from person to person.
Uncontrollable risk factors
- Race — African-Americans develop high blood pressure more often than Caucasians, and it tends to occur earlier and be more severe.
- Heredity — If your parents or other close blood relatives have high blood pressure, you're more likely to develop it.
- Age — In general, the older you get, the greater your chance of developing high blood pressure. It occurs most often in people over age 35. Men seem to develop it most often between age 35 and 55. Women are more likely to develop it after menopause.
Above content provided by The American Heart Association in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For advice about your medical care, consult your doctor.
Posted January 2009
