Risk factors for high blood pressure can vary depending on the type of disease. There are two types: primary or essential and secondary hypertension. The first type is several times more common than the second - it is diagnosed in 95% of patients with hypertension and its development is associated with three groups of factors: the general condition of the body, lifestyle and heredity. Secondary hypertension affects 5% of patients, and the risk factor for its development is various pathologies of certain organs. Some of the factors can be controlled, reducing the risk of disease.
Risk factors for primary hypertension
Essential arterial hypertension is a multifactorial disease; In some cases, it is impossible to accurately determine the cause of the pressure increase. The danger of the disease lies in the fact that its symptoms do not appear immediately - the causes can gradually and imperceptibly affect health. In addition, even in a latent state, high blood pressure increases the risk of developing a heart attack and stroke.
health status
One of the reasons for the development of hypertension is the deterioration of the elasticity of arterioles - small arterial vessels that carry blood into the capillaries. The condition of the vascular walls is influenced by several factors:
- aging of the body;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- heredity;
- inflammatory processes in the tissue.
The composition of the blood is also important for vascular health. A weakening of the circulatory system is primarily associated with diabetes mellitus. Blood sugar levels are regulated by insulin, a pancreatic hormone. If its secretion is reduced or it cannot perform its functions normally, the vessels are stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system more than they dilate under the action of insulin, which leads to an increase in blood pressure.
In addition to the condition of the blood vessels, the risk of high blood pressure is also influenced by body weight. Obesity causes the body to need more blood, which increases strain on the heart and blood vessels. According to statistics, 85% of those suffering from this disease have a body mass index above normal. When obesity is combined with diabetes, this indicates a more complex metabolic syndrome - a metabolic pathology in which the destruction of vascular walls by cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose can lead to the development of atherosclerosis.
Sleep apnea – pauses in breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep – is also a risk factor for the development of high blood pressure. This happens with severe snoring, when the airways are completely blocked due to a pathology of their structure or for other reasons. Each pause in breathing places a strong strain on the body and the pressure rises to 200-250 mmHg. Art. Regular attacks lead to chronic arterial hypertension.
way of life
Poor lifestyle is a group of risk factors that are easiest to control to prevent the onset of disease. These include:
- unhealthy diet, which leads to an imbalance in the salt balance in the body;
- lack of physical activity;
- Smoke;
- alcohol abuse;
- chronic stress.
Excessive consumption of table salt is a symptom that most people associate with arterial hypertension; The risk factors for this include both an increased sodium concentration and a low potassium content. Salts affect the pressure on both sides: they cause blood vessels to constrict and retain water in the body. This increases both the volume of blood and its pressure on the artery walls. To avoid this, you must not consume more than 5. 8 g of salt per day.
A sedentary lifestyle doesn't just lead to obesity. Lack of activity causes cardiac arrhythmias - the heart becomes weaker and has to beat more frequently to pump blood in the required quantities, which increases the load on the entire cardiovascular system. When you exercise, hormones are produced that strengthen the heart muscle and relax blood vessels, leading to a reduction in blood pressure.
Tobacco increases blood pressure, whether smoked, chewed or snorted. The chemicals with which it is impregnated destroy blood vessels. Nicotine has a complex effect on the circulatory system - it accelerates the heartbeat, increases the load on blood vessels and narrows the lumen of the arteries. E-cigarettes do not save you from this negative effect, although blood vessels are still healthier without carbon monoxide, which enters the blood when burning tobacco.
Alcohol destroys the heart muscle, leading to increased blood pressure. Women are recommended to drink no more than 0. 5 liters of drinks with an alcohol content of 5% per day, men – no more than 1 liter before the age of 65 and no more than 0. 5 liters – after the age of 65.
Stress causes dysfunction of the nervous system and leads to a complex deterioration of body functions, including effects on blood pressure. In addition, it is the background for the emergence of bad habits - overeating, smoking and alcoholism - which directly increase the risk of developing arterial hypertension.
Inheritance
Family history is particularly important when diagnosing hypertension; Risk factors are usually the general environment (ecological situation where the family lives) and behavior (lifestyle factors are likely to be passed on from parent to child), but above all genes. Heredity is considered the main factor in the development of arterial hypertension: there are genes that cause increased synthesis of renin, a kidney hormone that increases blood pressure.
High blood pressure is hereditary in 30% of cases. Therefore, it is important to monitor family history and note all diseases diagnosed in close relatives (parents, siblings, grandparents) - this will help assess the risk of developing pathology and prevent it. If there is a risk, you need to control your lifestyle even more carefully.
Knowing all of these factors, high blood pressure can be prevented by monitoring the development of prehypertension, a condition in which blood pressure is on the borderline between normal and dangerous.
| Condition | Pressure values (mmHg) | |
|---|---|---|
| Systolic | Diastolic | |
| standard | 120 | 80 |
| Prehypertension | 120-139 | 80-89 |
| hypertension | >140 | >90 |
In order to detect the disease early if you are at risk or to monitor your health if you have high blood pressure, it is recommended to measure your blood pressure twice a day: in the morning and evening, as well as at any time of the day if you feel unwell.
Risk factors for secondary hypertension
If primary hypertension develops against the background of a general deterioration in the condition of the body and, in particular, the circulatory system, specific diseases of the kidneys, endocrine glands and cardiovascular system are risk factors for the development of secondary hypertension.
Kidney disease
The main renal pathology leading to increased blood pressure is a decrease in the lumen of the renal artery. It can be congenital or develop in old age. The main reasons for the intravital development of pathology:
- Thickening of the smooth muscle of the artery – occurs in young women;
- Arteriosclerosis - in old age.
Due to this disease, blood flow to the kidney deteriorates, leading to increased secretion of renin and angiotensin. Together with the adrenal hormone aldosterone, they lead to an increase in vascular tone and an increase in blood pressure. To treat the pathology, the vessel is mechanically expanded and reinforced with a frame.
In addition, changes in hormone levels can be influenced by chronic pathological processes in the kidneys - pyelonephritis, formation of stones in the bladder, etc. The opposite reaction can also occur - hypertension leads to diseases of the urinary system.
Adrenal tumors
Occasionally, diseases of the adrenal glands lead to an increase in arterial tone. This includes the development of tumors that increase the production of hormones:
- Aldosterome – produces aldosterone. In addition to high blood pressure, this also leads to increased potassium excretion from the body.
- Pheochromocytoma – produces adrenaline, which accelerates the heartbeat and leads to increased blood pressure. Other symptoms include hot flashes, reddening of the skin and increased sweating.
In both cases, treatment consists of removing the adrenal glands.
Thyroid dysfunction
In secondary hypertension, some thyroid diseases may be risk factors: diffuse goiter, nodular goiter. They lead to thyrotoxicosis - increased production of thyroid hormones. These biologically active substances regulate metabolism in the body; When there is an excess, the heart rate increases, which leads to an increase in blood pressure.
taking medication
In addition to illnesses, secondary high blood pressure can also be caused by taking various medications and other substances. These include:
- antidepressants;
- drops and sprays for rhinitis;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- oral contraceptives;
- corticosteroids;
- Narcotics – cocaine, amphetamines;
- hematopoietic stimulant;
- asthma medications;
- High blood pressure medications – if stopped, they can cause a sharp increase in blood pressure.
If high blood pressure is caused by medications, you should consult a doctor and replace the medications you are taking with analogues with fewer side effects.
Other risks of the disease
There are othersRisk factors for high blood pressure. Unlike diseases and lifestyle choices, they cannot be eliminated or controlled.
One such factor is race. Research shows that arterial hypertension is more common and develops earlier in blacks than in whites, Hispanics, Asians and others.
The gender of the person also has an influence - men have a higher risk of high blood pressure, especially in adulthood and older age. Women are at risk during menopause and during pregnancy. The risk increases with age in both sexes. If by the age of 29 the probability of developing the disease does not exceed 10%, by the age of 60-69 it reaches 50%.
Most of the world's population is exposed to risk factors for high blood pressure at some point in their lives. According to research, 9 out of 10 people in the United States develop it sooner or later, and in most cases it is associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. Quitting bad habits, getting regular checkups from your doctor, and monitoring your blood pressure are the best ways to stay safe.