Hypertension is also referred to as high blood pressure. The heart pumps blood to all parts of the body through the arteries. The force blood exerts on the walls of the arteries as it travels through them is called blood pressure. High blood pressure occurs when there is an increase in this force. Increased blood pressure is needed to pump blood through narrow arteries, due to resistance to blood flow. Hypertension is associated with several risk factors and can lead to heart disease.
Race
Race is a risk factor for hypertension. People who belong to a certain race may experience high blood pressure much more than people of other races. African-Americans or blacks have a higher propensity for hypertension than other races. They also tend to develop hypertension at a younger age than whites.
Age
The blood vessels become thick and inelastic with age. This causes increased resistance to blood flow, and high blood pressure can result. Age is a risk factor for high blood pressure. The Mayo Clinic reports that hypertension is common in middle-age men and is more likely to occur in women after menopause.
Obesity or Being Overweight
When a person is obese or overweight, her blood volume increases. When there is more blood going through the arteries, more pressure is exerted on their walls. This increases the obese person's risk of developing hypertension.
Diet
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says sodium and potassium consumption are risk factors for hypertension. Consuming too much sodium or too little potassium can increase a person's blood pressure. Sodium is eaten as salt; potassium is found in some fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes.
Smoking
Smoking tobacco is a risk factor for hypertension. It can temporarily raise a person's blood pressure, the Mayo Clinic says. This habit can also cause blood vessels to narrow, resulting in elevated blood pressure.
Alcohol
Drinking a lot of alcoholic beverages can damage the heart and increase blood pressure. Excessive alcohol consumption puts people at risk for developing hypertension, because it may cause the body to release hormones that make the heart beat faster and increase the rate at which blood flows through the body.
References
- Mayo Clinic: High blood pressure (hypertension)- Risk factors
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: High Blood Pressure- Behavior
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: High Blood Pressure- Heredity
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: High Blood Pressure- Conditions
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: Who Is At Risk for High Blood Pressure?
