What are the main risk factors for hypertensions and how can I minimize my risk?

Luke Newman

            There are many risk factors for hypertension and some of them are capable of being controlled or altered while others aren’t.  Some of the main unalterable risk factors for HTN according to the Mayo Clinic include age, race (African Americans are more likely to have HTN), and a family history of HTN.  Most of the alterable risk factors of HTN focus around diet and exercise.   It appears that some of the most important nutrients involved are salt, potassium, and vitamin D, specifically too much salt and too little potassium and vitamin D are associated with HTN.  Smoking or chewing tobacco causes a narrowing of the arteries in the body, which contributes to increased blood pressure.  Those that do not exercise regularly tend to have higher heart rates than those that exercise regularly.  A higher heart rate forces the heart to work harder with each contraction which in turn increases blood pressure.  Finally, a high level of stress is highly correlated with a high risk of developing HTN.

Mayo Clinic Staff. "High Blood Pressure." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 03 Aug. 2012. Web. 08 Oct. 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/DS00100/DSECTION=risk-factors>.