Blood Pressure Causes and Risk Factors

Hypertension risk factors
It has been estimated that some 65 million adult Americans experience hypertension, or high blood pressure. Hypertension is a serious condition, and is often called the 'silent killer' among doctors. High blood pressure has been linked to an increase in blindness, heart attacks, heart failure, kidney failure, and stroke. Some Americans are more at risk than others. Risk factors include people that:

• are African-American
• are age 55 or older
• are obese
• consume excessive amounts of alcohol
• eat very salty foods
• exercise infrequently
• have family members with a history of hypertension
• have low levels of potassium
• have sleep apnea
• smoke

Hypotension risk factors
Most of the time, low blood pressure will not cause significant problems. But this type hypotension can present serious health problems. For example, extremely low blood pressure (diastolic blood pressure below 50 mmHg) deprives organs of sufficient oxygen and nutrients; this leads to shock. Risk factors for developing hypotension include

• age
• allergic reactions
• anemia
• blood loss
• dehydration
• endocrine problems
• heart problems
• low blood sugar
• medications
• neurological problems
• parkinson's disease
• pregnancy
• severe infection leading to septic shock
• standing up suddenly
• varicose veins

However, if you experience symptoms of low blood pressure on a regular basis or if your blood pressure drops quickly, then you should consult with your doctor to determine the cause. To learn more about the symptoms of both high blood pressure and low blood pressure, continue reading here. Our next section on Blood Pressure Symptoms will outline the common signs and physical symptoms of high blood pressure problems.