High Blood Pressure: risk factors

The risk factors for high blood pressure are (Maryon-Davis and Press, 2005):

Unmodifiable:

• Age and gender (older age and being male increases the risk)
• Ethnicity (being of Afro-Caribbean ethnic origin increases the risk)
• Family history of high blood pressure

Modifiable:

• Excess dietary salt
• Low dietary potassium
• Overweight and obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Excess alcohol
• Smoking
• Cold homes
• Socioeconomic status (deprivation may increase the risk)
• Psychosocial stressors
• Diabetes
• Low birthweight
• Being formula-fed as a baby