What are the risk factors for high blood pressure?
High blood pressure can occur in anyone, but is particularly prevalent in: • persons with diabetes mellitus, gout, or kidney disease. • African-Americans (particularly those who live in the southeastern United States). • persons in their early to middle adult years; men in this age group have higher blood pressure more often than women in this age group. • persons in their middle to later adult years; women in this age group have higher blood pressure more often than men in this age group (more women have high blood pressure after menopause than men of the same age). • middle-aged and elderly people – more than half of all Americans age 65 and older have high blood pressure. • persons whose parents or grandparents have/had high blood pressure. • obese people. • heavy drinkers of alcohol. • women who are taking oral contraceptives. How does blood pressure increase? The following may contribute to an increase in blood pressure: • being overweight • excessive sodium intake • a lack of exe
