Risk factors High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

1. Family history, High blood pressure tends to run in families.
2. Race, High blood pressure is particularly common among blacks, often developing at an earlier age than it does in whites.
3. Age, The risk of high blood pressure increases as you get older.
4. Stress. High levels of stress can lead to a temporary but dramatic increase in blood pressure.
5. Excessive alcohol. Over time, heavy drinking can damage your heart.
6. Sodium intake. Too much sodium in your diet especially if you have sodium sensitivity can lead to fluid retention and increased blood pressure.
7. Low potassium intake. Potassium helps balance the amount of sodium in your cells.
8. Tobacco use. The chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of your artery walls, which promotes narrowing of the arteries.
9. Excess weight. The greater your body mass, the more blood you need to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. As the volume of blood circulated through your blood vessels increases, so does the pressure on your artery walls.
10. Inactivity. People who are inactive tend to have higher heart rates. The higher your heart rate, the harder your heart must work with each contraction and the stronger the force on your arteries. Lack of physical activity also increases the risk of being overweight.
    

Complications High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to:

1. Heart failure
2. Thickened, narrowed or torn blood vessels in the eyes
3. Weakened and narrowed blood vessels in the kidneys
4. A blocked or ruptured blood vessel in the brain
5. Damage to the arteries
6. Metabolic syndrome