Hypertension Risk Factors

High Blood Pressure has many causative factors such as age, race, family history, obesity, not being physically active, consuming tobacco, too much salt (sodium) in diet, too little potassium and vitamin D in diet, drinking too much alcohol, stress and certain chronic conditions. There are general risk factors that can be responsible for raising anyone's risk of hypertension. Although high blood pressure is most common in adults, children may be at risk, too. For some children, high blood pressure is caused by problems with the kidneys or heart. But for a growing number of kids, poor lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of exercise, contribute to high blood pressure. Sometimes pregnancy contributes to high blood pressure, as well. Certain diseases and medications are specific causes of high blood pressure. 

Cardiovascular disease represents the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Western countries, and hypertension-related cardiovascular events or hypertensive emergencies affect about 37 million people per year, worldwide. In this perspective, hypertensive patients are at increased risk to experience cardiovascular events during life-long period, and treatment of high blood pressure represents one of the most effective strategies to reduce global cardiovascular risk.