Are You at Risk for High Blood Pressure: Eight Things That Put You at Risk

There are a lot of things that can cause blood pressure to be higher than normal. Some you can't control, but there are a few you can. As hypertension is a silent and deadly hazard, knowing all you can could prevent a tragedy in your life.

There are four levels of blood pressure readings. According to the Mayo Clinic, any reading under 120/80 is normal. Between 120/80 and 139/89 is called prehypertension. Stage one is from 140/90 to 149/99 and second stage is 150/100 and higher.

As I mentioned, there are two types of causes, those you can do something about and those you can't. While you should be aware of both types, it's wise to concentrate on what you can change. It will make what you can't less likely to be a problem.

Heredity: While the wit who commented that you can "choose your friends but not your family" probably referred to more social aspects of familial relationships, it comes true with heredity as well. If you have at least one first degree relative with high BP, you are more likely to develop it. If it runs back in an unbroken chain, well, it's even more likely. By the way, first degree relative means a parent or sibling.

Lack of Exercise: This is both about weight loss and about how your body is designed to need movement. While exercise will temporarily cause your numbers to go up, after you've cooled down, they should settle into a more normal level.

Lack of Sleep: I've heard people brag about being able to chug along just fine with limited sleep and I have to wonder if they think this is a good idea. Study after study shows that we need an average of seven hours of sleep minimum to stay healthy. Less opens the doors for all kinds of serious health problems, including hyptertension.

Obesity: The more you weigh, the harder your heart has to work to get blood to all parts of the body. This increased workload also increases the pressure. As most of us who are overweight have high cholesterol, this just adds to the problem.

Poor Diet: If you consistently consume foods high in simple carbs, fat and cholesterol, you are at increased risk.

Sodium: There's good news and bad news here. If you have normal readings, a little extra salt may not be bad for you. However, if you already have the problem, it will cause the numbers to go up.

Smoking: Like sodium, smoking does not cause high blood pressure. However, it will increase the risk of heart disease and it can affect readings in those who already have the condition. This is because it narrows blood vessels while the chemicals from the tobacco are in your body.

Stress: Deadlines, layoff threats and many other worries are a constant in our lives. Unfortunately, these stressful events are also bad for our BP numbers.

If you have one or more of these risk factors, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor. Many of these things can be mitigated, especially if it is caught early. If you wish to use supplements as part of your overall health plan, make sure to speak to the doctor about them, as well. Most are fairly safe, but some can have bad drug/herb interactions.