Risk factors for developing high blood pressure

Risk factors for high blood pressure may vary depending on the type of disease. There are two types: primary or primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. The first type occurs many times more frequently than the second - it is diagnosed in 95% of patients with hypertension, and its occurrence is related to three groups of factors: the general condition of the body, lifestyle and genetics. Secondary hypertension affects 5% of patients, and risk factors for its development are various pathologies of specific organs. There are factors that can be controlled to reduce the risk of developing this disease.

Risk factors for essential hypertension

Essential arterial hypertension is a multifactorial disease; in some cases, the cause of the increased pressure cannot be accurately determined. The danger of this disease is that its symptoms do not appear immediately - its causes gradually undermine health without even realizing it. Additionally, high blood pressure, even in its latent state, increases the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke.

Health status

One of the causes of high blood pressure is a deterioration in the elasticity of the arterioles (the small arteries that carry blood to the capillaries). The condition of blood vessel walls is affected by many factors:

• physical aging;
• Sedentary lifestyle;
• genetics;
• Inflammatory processes in tissues.

The composition of your blood is also important for blood vessel health. Weakness of the circulatory system is primarily associated with diabetes. Blood sugar levels are regulated by insulin, a pancreatic hormone. If its secretion is reduced or fails to function properly, the blood vessels are stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system more than they dilate under the action of insulin, leading to an increase in blood pressure.In addition to vascular conditions, the risk of hypertension is also affected by body weight. Obesity causes the body to require more blood, which increases the load on the heart and blood vessels. According to statistics, 85% of people with this disease have a higher than normal body mass index. If obesity is combined with diabetes, it indicates the presence of a more complex metabolic syndrome—a metabolic pathology in which damage to blood vessel walls by cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose can lead to the development of atherosclerosis.A risk factor for developing high blood pressure is also sleep apnea - stopping of breathing for 10 seconds or more during sleep. Severe snoring occurs when the airway becomes completely blocked due to structural pathology or other reasons. Each cessation of breathing is a powerful stress on the body, with pressure rising to 200-250 mm Hg. Art. Periodic attacks can lead to chronic arterial hypertension.

lifestyle

Poor lifestyle is a group of risk factors that are easiest to control to prevent the onset of disease. These include:

• Unhealthy eating habits lead to imbalance of salt balance in the body;
• lack of physical activity;
• smokes;
• Abuse of alcohol;
• Chronic stress.

Excessive consumption of salt is a common symptom of most patients with high blood pressure. Risk factors for this condition include elevated sodium levels and low potassium levels. Salts affect the pressure on both sides: they cause blood vessels to constrict and retain water in the body. As a result, the blood volume and its pressure on the artery walls increase. To avoid this, the amount of salt you eat should not exceed 5. 8 grams per day.A sedentary lifestyle doesn't just lead to obesity. In the absence of activity, arrhythmia occurs - the heart weakens and in order to pump the required amount of blood, the heart must beat more frequently, which increases the load on the entire cardiovascular system. During exercise, hormones are produced that strengthen the heart muscle and relax blood vessels, causing blood pressure to drop.Whether smoked, chewed, or snorted, tobacco increases blood pressure. The chemicals it's impregnated with can damage blood vessels. Nicotine has complex effects on the circulatory system - it accelerates the heartbeat, increases the load on blood vessels, and narrows the lumen of arteries. E-cigarettes do not protect you from these negative effects, and although the carbon monoxide produced during tobacco burning does not enter the bloodstream, blood vessels will still be healthier.Alcohol damages the heart muscle, causing blood pressure to rise. It is recommended that women should drink no more than 0. 5 liters of drinks with an alcohol content of 5% per day, and men should drink no more than 1 liter before the age of 65, and no more than 0. 5 liters after the age of 65.Stress can cause nervous system dysfunction and lead to complex deterioration of body functions, including effects on blood pressure. In addition, it is the background for the emergence of bad lifestyle habits - overeating, smoking, alcoholism - that directly increase the risk of arterial hypertension.

genetics

Family history is particularly important in diagnosing hypertension; risk factors are often environmental (the ecological conditions of where the family lives) and behavioral (lifestyle factors may be passed from parents to children), but mostly genetic. Heredity is thought to be a major factor in the development of arterial hypertension: some genes lead to increased synthesis of renin, a kidney hormone that increases blood pressure.30% of cases of hypertension are genetically related, so it is important to monitor family history and record all diagnoses of the disease in close relatives (parents, siblings, grandparents) - this will help assess the risk of developing lesions and prevent them. If there are risks, you need to control your lifestyle more carefully. By understanding all of these factors, high blood pressure can be prevented by monitoring the development of prehypertension, a condition in which blood pressure falls between normal and dangerous.<头>

state	Pressure value (mmHg)
	systolic blood pressure	diastolic blood pressure
specification	120	80
Prehypertension	120–139	80–89
hypertension	>140	>90

In order to detect diseases promptly when you are at risk, or to monitor your health if you have high blood pressure, it is recommended to measure your blood pressure twice a day: in the morning and evening and your blood pressure. Feel uncomfortable.

Risk factors for secondary hypertension

If essential hypertension occurs against the background of a general deterioration of the physical condition, especially of the circulatory system, then risk factors for the development of secondary hypertension are specific diseases of the kidneys, endocrine glands and cardiovascular system.

kidney disease

The main renal pathology leading to increased blood pressure is renal artery lumen reduction. It can be congenital or develop in old age. The main causes of pathological changes in the body:

• Thickening of arterial smooth muscle - occurs in younger women;
• Atherosclerosis - in old age.

Due to this disease, blood flow to the kidneys worsens, resulting in increased secretion of renin and angiotensin. Together with the adrenal hormone aldosterone, they cause increased blood vessel tone and blood pressure. To treat pathology, blood vessels are mechanically dilated and reinforced with frames.In addition, changes in hormonal levels may be affected by chronic pathological processes in the kidney - pyelonephritis, bladder stone formation, etc. The opposite reaction can also occur - high blood pressure leading to urinary tract disease.

adrenal gland tumors

Sometimes, adrenal disease causes increased arterial tone. These include the development of tumors that increase hormone production:

1. Aldosterone - produces aldosterone. In addition to high blood pressure, this can lead to increased excretion of potassium in the body.
2. Pheochromocytoma - produces adrenaline, which increases the heart rate and causes blood pressure to rise. Other symptoms include hot flashes, flushed skin and increased sweating.

In both cases, treatment involves removal of the adrenal glands.

thyroid dysfunction

In case of secondary hypertension, risk factors may be some thyroid diseases: diffuse goiter, nodular goiter. They can cause thyrotoxicosis—increased secretion of thyroid hormones. These bioactive substances regulate metabolism in the body; when they are in excess, the heartbeat increases, causing blood pressure to rise.

take medicine

In addition to illness, taking various medications and other substances can cause secondary hypertension. These include:

• Antidepressants;
• Drops and sprays to treat rhinitis;
• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• oral contraceptives;
• corticosteroids;
• Narcotic substances - cocaine, amphetamines;
• Hematopoietic stimulants;
• asthma medications;
• Antihypertensive medications - may cause a sharp increase in blood pressure when discontinuation of the medication.

If high blood pressure is caused by medication, you should talk to your doctor and replace the medication you are taking with a similar medication that has fewer side effects.

Other risks of developing the disease

still got morerisk factors for high blood pressure. Unlike diseases and lifestyle choices, they cannot be eliminated or controlled.One factor is race. Studies show that arterial hypertension is more common and develops earlier in blacks than in whites, Hispanics, Asians and others.A person's gender also plays a role - men are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure, especially in adulthood and old age. Women face risks during menopause and pregnancy. The risk increases with age for both men and women. If the probability of developing the disease does not exceed 10% before the age of 29, it reaches 50% at the age of 60-69.Most people in the world experience risk factors for hypertension at some point in their lives. According to research, nine out of 10 people in the United States will develop the disease sooner or later, and in most cases, it is related to an unhealthy lifestyle. Breaking bad habits, seeing your doctor regularly, and monitoring your blood pressure are the best ways to stay safe.