Lesson 3 - High Risk Factors

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As you may expect, if you are an African-American woman over the age of 65, you are at even greater risk of developing the condition than one who falls into just one of these high-risk groups. You're not necessarily three times more likely, but you are at an even greater risk. This works for all combinations, such as if you have a High Normal pressure reading, along with a family history of hypertension. Or, perhaps you are a young African-American male with a diet that is high in salt, living a sedentary lifestyle. If you fall into even one of these groups, the likelihood of developing hypertension is pretty high. If you fall into two or three of these groups, you had better watch your lifestyle carefully, try to instill some changes, and make sure you keep close tabs on your cardiovascular health.

Contrary to popular belief, things such as smoking does not really play a role in the long-term development of hypertension. However, it does temporarily raise your blood pressure. This is one of the reasons your doctor will get a false reading if you have your pressure taken after you have just smoked a cigarette. There is no question that smoking is bad for you. If you do smoke, you should quit — it is a habit that really takes its toll on your lungs, your skin and your overall well being, but it does not directly affect your hypertension diagnosis. Caffeine is another misunderstood component in the fight against hypertension. Although caffeine does tend to raise your blood pressure temporarily, it is not considered a component in the development of chronic high blood pressure.

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