About 47% of Americans in the U.S. have hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. Hypertension could make you susceptible to conditions like stroke and cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, hypertension does not usually trigger symptoms till complications arise; hence, often referred to as a ‘silent killer.’ Several variables and factors can increase your likelihood of acquiring high blood pressure. Understanding these risk variables will assist you in identifying minor fluctuations in blood pressure; thus, alerting you to physiological anomalies. Here are the leading risk factors for Port Saint Lucie hypertension.
Age
Although there have been increasing blood pressure diagnoses among young persons, the likelihood of developing high blood pressure increases with age. If you are above 40 years and have additional risk factors, you should constantly keep track of your blood pressure.
Family History
If you have hypertensive relatives, your risk of having the disease greatly increases. This concern is primarily the result of both heredity and lifestyle choices. If hypertension runs in your family, you should take preventative actions to avoid comparable health problems.
Obesity
If you weigh more, more blood is needed to deliver nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. As such, obesity is often linked to hypertension, and hypertension is connected to numerous other conditions that might impact your general life expectancy and health. If you are identified with hypertension, you should begin treatment immediately. However, considerable improvements are observed once weight loss is paired with medicine. A BMI of more than 30 indicates obesity.
Diabetes
Approximately 25% of persons with Type I diabetes and 80% of those with Type II diabetes have hypertension. Unmanaged diabetes increases the risk of kidney disease, cardiovascular illness, and stroke. If you have both hypertension and diabetes, your risk of developing major health complications increases even further.
Diet
Diet has a substantial impact on hypertension risk. Regular drinkers have elevated blood pressure than those who abstain. Moreover, the excessive consumption of saturated fats and salt could also lead to hypertension. Avoiding or reducing intake of these substances is demonstrated to lower blood pressure.
Stress
In today’s fast-paced, increasingly demanding environment, stress management could practically save your life. The wear and tear of psychological anguish could severely affect blood pressure and general health with time. In times of high stress, it is typical for the heart rate to increase. In chronic stress conditions, though, the heart rate never reverts to normal. If you do not take action to manage it, chronic stress might cause substantial damage.
Smoking
Smoking induces constriction of the blood arteries, leading to high blood pressure. Smoking can also decrease the oxygen saturation in your blood, forcing the heart to pump quickly to keep up, resulting in high blood pressure.
Understanding the prevalent risk factors for hypertension can go a long way in helping you avoid acquiring the condition or find ways to manage it to avoid major complications later. If you have one or more of the risk factors discussed above, contact TLC Medical Group Inc. Dr. Anthony Lewis, and the expert team will assist you in making appropriate lifestyle modifications and other adjustments to manage the modifiable risk factors. Call the Port Saint Lucie, FL, office or request an appointment online today.
