How do you know if you are at risk for high blood pressure?
People who seem to be at greater risk of developing high blood pressure include those who:
- Have a family history of high blood pressure (for example, a parent, a brother, or a sister)
- Are overweight
- Are African American
- Eat too much salt or sodium in their diet
- Have diabetes
- Drink too much alcohol
- Are under stress or depressed
- Do not exercise
- Are taking birth control pills
- Have a high cholesterol level
- Smoke
- Are over the age of 50
- Are prehypertensive (have a systolic pressure of 120 - 139 and a dystolic pressure of 80 - 89)
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Written by: Janice C. May, M.P.A.
Reviewed by: Jeffrey G. Schultze, M.D.
Last Modified: Thursday September 26, 2019 9:09 AM