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Heart disease Overview > conditions and diseases >

High Blood Pressure 101

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.
Continued on Page 3: Symptoms
 
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