High Blood Pressure 101

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Risk Factors

There are some risk factors for high blood pressure you can’t control:

• Age: People over 35 have increased risk for high blood pressure.
• Race: African-Americans have a higher incidence of high blood pressure.
• Family History: Having a parent or sibling with high blood pressure increases your risk.

Risk factors for high blood pressure you can control:

• Obesity: Extra body weight taxes the cardiovascular system, making it work harder to pump blood.
• Sedentary Lifestyle: Exercise increases the heart's efficiency. Lack of activity causes the heart to work harder to pump blood, increasing blood pressure.
• Smoking: Smoking causes the arteries to narrow, increasing blood pressure.
• Excess Sodium: A diet with too much sodium can lead to fluid retention, increasing blood volume.
• Low Potassium: Potassium balances sodium; without adequate potassium intake, sodium levels increase.
• Excess Alcohol: Over time, excess alcohol use can damage the heart, making it pump harder to work effectively.
  
• Stress: Stress increases heart rate, so blood is pumped faster.