Although high blood pressure (hypertension) is said to be one of the most common ailments of modern times, it has nevertheless become known as the “silent killer”. This is because it often goes undetected in the afflicted persons for long periods and sometimes may not be diagnosed until individuals present with complications such as strokes, heart diseases or other coronary problems.

What is High Blood Pressure?

In some ways high blood pressure can be referred to as a “Goldie Locks” condition. We all need some blood pressure in our bodies but too little and we suffer from hypotension and too much and we become victims of hypertension. The pressure has to be in the right range to maintain a healthy body. Blood pressure is measured using a blood pressure monitor machine as shown in the photo. Generally the machine gives a reading for a top and a bottom number. A top reading (systolic) of 120 and a bottom reading (diastolic) of 80 is accepted as ideal. Readings of 120 – 139 over 80 – 89 indicate pre-hypertension while a top number over 140 and a bottom number over 90 indicate hypertensive condition.

Who are at Risk for Hypertension?

We do not yet know the exact causes of high blood pressure, but studies have shown that persons who are exposed to certain conditions are more likely to suffer from hypertension than persons without such exposure. These conditions may be divided into several categories including race, genetics, lifestyle, age, weight, diet, gender and stress levels.

Race: Persons of color, more so than any other group, tend to suffer from incidences of high blood pressure. While it is not clear why this is so many posit that diet and lifestyle are the major contributing factors.

Heredity: Hypertension tends to run in families; perhaps family members tend to consume similar diets and develop similar lifestyle habits. However, the genetic link among these individuals strongly suggests that hypertension may be in some way an inheredited condition.

Cholesterol and Triglycerides: High levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are usually associated with the presence of high blood pressure. It is not uncommon for sufferers of hypertension to experience normal blood pressure readings when their cholesterol and triglycerides levels are under control.

Lifestyle: Certain habits appear to be highly associated with the incidence of high blood pressure. Habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption and inactivity are all associated with high blood pressure.

Age: Hypertension is generally accepted as an adulthood disease. Normally this malady does not appear until persons are in their thirties. This can be expected since many of the factors associated with high blood pressure are not experienced until later in life. Even if one may argues that hypertension is inherited the fact remains that it may not present until it is exacerbated by other precipitating factors.

Weight: Weight is a major factor in the development of high blood pressure. Persons who are overweight are more likely to develop high blood pressure than those who maintain weight within the normal range.

Diet: Persons who consume a diet rich in salt and fat especially have a greater predisposition to develop hypertension. Infact, studies have shown high blood pressure can be controlled when diet alone is properly managed.

Gender: Men are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than women. While it is not clear why this is the case some have hypothesized that lifestype habits and stress levels are some of the major contributing factors.

Stress Levels: Stressful lifestyles, especially associated with work and career, have a high correlation with the incidence of high blood pressure.

Do you fall in any of these categories? If you do then you should certainly check with your physician to confirm your status. While high blood pressure is a serious condition it can be controlled with the appropriate treatment or even prevented if the proper action is taken in time. Nowadays, many herbal remedies appear to bring relief to this condition naturally.