High blood pressure is a problem across the globe.
It was previously associated with growing older.
Generally, seniors were at risk of hypertension and younger adults, even middle-aged adults, never had to be too concerned with high blood pressure problems.
However, the incidence of hypertension among younger people has changed drastically in modern times thereby making it the most prevalent cardiovascular condition.
The issue with high blood pressure in younger people is the primary type of hypertension.
Here high blood pressure occurs for no clearly discernible reason.
Therefore it is referred to as primary hypertension in contrast to secondary hypertension where the elevation in blood pressure can be linked to some underlying disease.
While the exact cause of primary hypertension is not known, there are certain risk factors that have been clearly identified.
Remember that risk factors are not the cause of the problem - it is simply factors that increase the chances of a condition arising.
The main risk factors are getting older, a family history of hypertension, cigarette smoking and obesity.
While you cannot avoid growing older, cigarette smoking and obesity can be avoided and/or treated.
For this reasons these risk factors are referred to as modifiable risk factors.
But what about genetics? If you have the genes then surely you cannot undo it? While it is true that genes are non-modifiable, it is now known that physical fitness can actually tip the balance in your favor when it comes to your genetic makeup.
People who have a higher level of physical fitness, despite having a strong family history of hypertension, have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure than unfit people with familial hypertension.
This ultimately only leaves advancing age as the main hypertension risk factor that cannot be changed in any way.
But even if it could, would it help prevent chronic ailments like hypertension? Possibly not.
Primary hypertension is now seen from the 40s and it is not entirely uncommon for it to start as early as your 20s.
No longer is primary hypertension an "old person's" problem.
These days hypertension is a problem that starts in midlife but becomes more difficult to manage in the senior years.
Aging may be unavoidable but it is not all bad news when it comes to hypertension.
Remember that by removing the modifiable risk factors your risk of developing high blood pressure early in life is drastically reduced.
If you are a cigarette smoker then quit immediately.
If you are overweight or obese then it is time to get serious about your weight management goals.
And while genetics cannot be changed, the effect can be minimized by being physically fit.
So get serious about hypertension today - irrespective of your age.
It is the early intervention and preventative measures that you adopt in your lifestyle that can make all the difference for the rest of your life.
It was previously associated with growing older.
Generally, seniors were at risk of hypertension and younger adults, even middle-aged adults, never had to be too concerned with high blood pressure problems.
However, the incidence of hypertension among younger people has changed drastically in modern times thereby making it the most prevalent cardiovascular condition.
The issue with high blood pressure in younger people is the primary type of hypertension.
Here high blood pressure occurs for no clearly discernible reason.
Therefore it is referred to as primary hypertension in contrast to secondary hypertension where the elevation in blood pressure can be linked to some underlying disease.
While the exact cause of primary hypertension is not known, there are certain risk factors that have been clearly identified.
Remember that risk factors are not the cause of the problem - it is simply factors that increase the chances of a condition arising.
The main risk factors are getting older, a family history of hypertension, cigarette smoking and obesity.
While you cannot avoid growing older, cigarette smoking and obesity can be avoided and/or treated.
For this reasons these risk factors are referred to as modifiable risk factors.
But what about genetics? If you have the genes then surely you cannot undo it? While it is true that genes are non-modifiable, it is now known that physical fitness can actually tip the balance in your favor when it comes to your genetic makeup.
People who have a higher level of physical fitness, despite having a strong family history of hypertension, have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure than unfit people with familial hypertension.
This ultimately only leaves advancing age as the main hypertension risk factor that cannot be changed in any way.
But even if it could, would it help prevent chronic ailments like hypertension? Possibly not.
Primary hypertension is now seen from the 40s and it is not entirely uncommon for it to start as early as your 20s.
No longer is primary hypertension an "old person's" problem.
These days hypertension is a problem that starts in midlife but becomes more difficult to manage in the senior years.
Aging may be unavoidable but it is not all bad news when it comes to hypertension.
Remember that by removing the modifiable risk factors your risk of developing high blood pressure early in life is drastically reduced.
If you are a cigarette smoker then quit immediately.
If you are overweight or obese then it is time to get serious about your weight management goals.
And while genetics cannot be changed, the effect can be minimized by being physically fit.
So get serious about hypertension today - irrespective of your age.
It is the early intervention and preventative measures that you adopt in your lifestyle that can make all the difference for the rest of your life.