Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition where the force of blood against your artery walls is consistently too high. Over time, this elevated pressure may lead to serious health problems, and it can increase the risk of heart disease. Understanding the factors that contribute to its development is a key step in managing your health. Here are some of the factors that could increase your risk of hypertension:
Getting Older
As people age, their blood vessels naturally stiffen and become less flexible, a process that contributes to an increase in blood pressure. Arterial changes are a regular part of the aging process. Older adults are more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension than younger individuals, and this risk continues to climb with each passing decade.
Being Overweight
Carrying extra weight may place additional strain on your heart and circulatory system. Your heart must work harder to pump blood to all your tissues, and this increased effort can raise blood pressure. Because the body requires more blood to supply oxygen and nutrients, blood volume increases, placing more pressure on artery walls.
This added strain is not limited to the heart alone. Being overweight may correlate with other health changes that affect blood pressure, such as alterations in hormone levels. Excess fat tissue may raise blood pressure, making weight management a key component of cardiovascular health. This is a complex physiological response.
Managing your weight is a practical step toward maintaining a healthy blood pressure reading. A modest weight reduction typically results in a measurable drop in blood pressure readings, although individual results may vary. Even a small amount of weight loss offers health advantages, and it helps reduce the overall workload on your cardiovascular system.
Eating Excess Sodium
A diet high in sodium disrupts the body’s natural fluid balance, which may lead to higher blood pressure. The body may retain water to dilute sodium, and this increase in fluid volume results in hypertension. Many processed and restaurant foods contain high levels of sodium, typically more than you might expect.
To manage sodium intake, it helps to read nutrition labels and choose lower-sodium options when they are available. Cooking meals at home gives you direct control over the amount of salt you use, and you can season foods with herbs and spices instead. Limiting your consumption of certain items is a direct approach:
- Canned soups
- Cured meats
- Frozen dinners
Having Hypertension in Family History
Genetics plays a part in the development of hypertension. If your parents or other close blood relatives have a history of high blood pressure, your own risk may be elevated. While you cannot change your genetic makeup, knowing your family history gives you valuable information. Shared genes, as well as everyday environments and lifestyles among families, contribute to this pattern. This genetic predisposition does not mean you will develop hypertension, but it does mean you have a greater tendency toward it.
Get Checked for Hypertension
Knowing your blood pressure numbers is the only way to determine if you have hypertension. The condition typically presents with no warning signs or symptoms, so you might not know you have it without a proper measurement. Regular monitoring provides a clear picture of your cardiovascular health, and it allows for early detection of any changes. Speak with a healthcare provider to have your blood pressure checked.
