High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition that affects many people. While high blood pressure signs and symptoms are not always obvious, the effects of high blood pressure are. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to problems such as a stroke or kidney failure. Due to the severity of this condition, it is important to be aware of the risk factors associated with high blood pressure.
Obesity
Obesity is a strong risk factor for potential onset for high blood pressure. In a 2004 study in the journal “Recent Progress in Hormone Research,” researchers presented information on how obesity is strongly linked to development of high blood pressure. They describe how obesity increases stress on the kidneys by increasing the re-absorption rate of sodium. This sodium re-absorption increases the sodium content in the bloodstream, which puts an individual at a higher risk for development of high blood pressure. Distribution of body fat is also an important factor as increased abdominal fat places more pressure on arterial walls and thereby stresses the heart.
Ethnicity
Recent research has shown that ethnicity is strongly related to high blood pressure. In the June 2004 “American Journal of Hypertension,” researchers conducted a study on the incidence of high blood pressure among various ethnicities to include African-Americans, Caucasians, Hispanics and Asians. The results of the study indicate that minority ethnic groups have a much higher risk factor and prevalence of development of high blood pressure than Caucasians. Specifically, African-Americans were seen as having the highest risk of development of high blood pressure out of all of the ethnic groups in the study.
Family History
Family history is another factor that provides a strong association for onset of high blood pressure. In the February 2008 “Journal of Hypertension,” researchers investigated how family history and insulin and lipid levels of family members influences risk of development of high blood pressure. Results of the study indicated that participants whose parents had hypertension had increased insulin resistance and higher blood lipid levels, which increases the risk for development of high blood pressure.
References
- Recent Progress in Hormone Research: “Hypertension and Obesity”; A. Aneja, et. al. Volume 59, 2004.
- American Journal of Hypertension: “Racial/Ethnic Differences in Hypertension and Hypertension Treatment and Control in Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)”; H. Kraemer, et. al. June 2004.
- Journal of Hypertension: “How Family History and Risk Factors for Hypertension Relate to Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Healthy Adults”; I. Goldstein, D. Shapiro and R. Weiss. February 2008.
