What Are the High-Risk Factors for Hypertension?

Hypertension is a common clinical condition that affects many middle-aged and elderly individuals, often requiring long-term medication to control blood pressure. However, there are numerous high-risk factors in daily life that can lead to recurrent hypertension, posing significant harm to people's health. Additionally, hypertension can often be triggered by underlying diseases. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the various high-risk factors associated with hypertension. What are these high-risk factors? Here are some examples:

1. Age and Gender: The prevalence of hypertension increases with age, with a 10% increase for every 10 years of age after 35. Before menopause, the prevalence is lower in women than in men, but it becomes higher after menopause. Both men and women experience an increase in average blood pressure with age, especially in systolic blood pressure.

2. Genetic Factors: Hypertension often has a familial history, with blood pressure levels in immediate family members typically higher than in non-relatives of the same age. Children of parents with hypertension have a higher risk of developing hypertension compared to those with normotensive parents. The probability of hypertension in children with both parents having hypertension is 45%, while it is only 3% for children with normotensive parents.

3. Overweight and Obesity: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body weight relative to height. A BMI of 18.5 to 23.9 is considered normal weight, 24 to 27.9 is overweight, and 28 or above is obese. The prevalence of hypertension in obese individuals is 2 to 6 times higher than in non-obese individuals. For every 10kg increase in body weight, there is a corresponding increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

4. High-Salt, High-Fat, Low-Potassium, and Low-Calcium Diet: Approximately 75% of the sodium intake in humans comes from dietary sources. The physiological need for sodium is relatively low, with 1 to 2 grams per day sufficient for adults. Excessive salt intake can lead to hypertension. Inadequate intake of calcium and high-quality protein, along with an increased ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids, are also considered factors that contribute to elevated blood pressure.