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- $Unique_ID{BRK01475}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure}
- $Subject{high blood pressure risk factor circulatory system hbp uncontrollable
- controllable heredity race sex age weight alcohol sodium smoking oral
- contraceptives repressed anger sedentary life-style pressures factors gender
- overweight alcoholism salt the pill lifestyle lifestyles smoke contraceptive
- contraception contraceptions}
- $Volume{G-3}
- $Log{
- The Effects of Smoking*0007301.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure
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- QUESTION: For some strange reason, I don't understand all that I read and
- hear about risk factors. It would seem that some people are just made so they
- can't help but develop high blood pressure (HBP), while others change their
- ways and escape. I am at an age where all of this is suddenly most important
- to me, and I wonder if you could shed some light on the subject? I know you
- would be helping a lot of us who are in the same boat.
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-
- ANSWER: Risk factors are the result of statistical analysis of the elements
- that are present in people that do show elevated blood pressures. The more
- risk factors present in your personal or family history, the greater the
- chance is that you too will develop the condition. However it is really not
- that cut and dried, and some people with many risk factors present never do
- develop any signs of blood pressure elevation while others that seem free of
- identifiable factors, are found with higher than normal readings. It becomes
- a bit simpler to understand when you divide the factors into two kinds, those
- that you can't change (also called "uncontrollable" risk factors) and those
- that may be lessened by appropriate actions that you may take
- ("controllable"). In the uncontrollable category, there are four headings:
- heredity, present when your parents or other close members of your family have
- a history of high blood pressure; race, for reasons that are still poorly
- understood, a higher percentage of Black North Americans develop HBP than
- white North Americans: sex, women before menopause are slightly less at risk
- than men, after menopause they catch up quite rapidly; age, the older you are
- the greater your chances of developing HBP. It is in the controllable
- category that you find the things you can do something about and where the
- greatest educational emphasis is placed. Here there are seven headings:
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- weight: the more your weight exceeds the normal for your height, the
- greater the chance of HBP. Lowering your weight to normal can actually reduce
- your blood pressure levels;
- alcohol consumption: yes I, too, have heard that a drink is good for the
- circulation and digestion, but statistics prove that regular, excessive
- drinking can increase blood pressure;
- sodium: to some people who are sensitive to the amount of sodium they
- consume (present in table salt and other foods and medicines), blood pressures
- rise when salt is taken in excess of body needs;
- smoking: the nicotine in tobacco smoke causes the small blood vessels in
- the body to squeeze down (contract) which results in increased blood pressure
- levels;
- oral contraceptives: some women are sensitive to this medication which
- results in their developing HBP. Smoking and birth control pills together
- make for a very high risk factor;
- repressed anger: people who hold a lot of anger inside and are
- constantly frustrated with their situation tend to have more heart and blood
- pressure problems;
- sedentary life-style: when the heart, blood vessels and muscles are not
- exposed to regular exercise, they lose their tone, and HBP may result. In
- addition lack of activity contributes to weight gain.
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- With all the indications in the "controllable" category, it is easy to
- understand how some people manage to overcome their tendency to develop HBP
- and improve their odds. The pay off is not only a reduction in heart
- problems, and an increased life span, but also a life more than a mere
- existence, enjoyable, rewarding and fun to live.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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