Hypertension, as the most common chronic disease, mainly occurs in middle-aged and elderly people. However, this does not mean that young people cannot get hypertension. On the contrary, due to the lifestyle and dietary habits of modern young people, the age at which hypertension occurs is starting to decrease. More and more young people are also starting to suffer from hypertension. So what are the reasons behind the high prevalence of hypertension?
1. Family history
Hypertension patients often have a family history, and the blood pressure levels of their direct relatives are higher than those of non-direct relatives of the same age. The risk of developing hypertension is higher for children whose parents both have hypertension. For children whose parents have normal blood pressure, the probability of developing hypertension is only 3%. These findings indicate the importance of genetic factors in hypertension.
Recommendation: People with a family history of hypertension should take preventive measures from childhood. These measures include reducing salt intake, drinking less alcohol, engaging in appropriate physical exercise, controlling diet, avoiding excessive obesity, avoiding excessive mental stress, and undergoing regular annual physical examinations to detect blood pressure abnormalities early and provide timely and effective treatment.
2. Age
As people grow older, their blood pressure gradually increases. Statistics show that patients under the age of 40 account for only about 10% of the total number of patients, while patients over the age of 40 account for about 90% of the total. Therefore, the incidence of hypertension significantly increases after the age of 40.
3. Obesity and overweight
The impact of obesity on blood pressure is evident. Fat is not only the main source of energy for the body's metabolism, but also a necessary substance for healthy development. However, excessive fat storage in the body can lead to obesity, which not only makes people bloated and clumsy, but also increases the burden on the heart and other organs, leading to hypertension and heart disease. Obesity is an important factor in the elevation of blood pressure. Follow-up studies over the past decade have found that at least 60% of overweight individuals have hypertension, and the prevalence of hypertension in obese individuals is three times higher than that in individuals with normal weight of the same age.
4. Smoking and drinking
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are also risk factors for hypertension. Modern medicine believes that nicotine in tobacco is the main factor causing hypertension. After nicotine in tobacco enters the bloodstream, it stimulates the heart and adrenal glands to release a large amount of catecholamines, which increases heart rate, constricts blood vessels, and raises blood pressure.
Excessive alcohol consumption as an independent risk factor for hypertension has been confirmed by a large number of epidemiological studies. Studies by medical experts in Sweden, the United States, and the United Kingdom have found a clear positive correlation between excessive alcohol consumption and the incidence of hypertension. This relationship between alcohol consumption and hypertension persists even after controlling for variables such as age, gender, body mass index, and smoking.
5. Menopause in women
As women age and enter menopause, they may also experience symptoms such as hypertension. People who are inactive and lack physical labor may also develop hypertension and its complications.
6. Sleep disturbances
Lack of sleep and sleep apnea are also risk factors for hypertension. Whether it is brief respiratory pauses during nighttime sleep or taking a nap immediately after lunch, both can trigger hypertension.
7. Emotional fluctuations
Emotional excitement is also a common risk factor for hypertension. We often see in movies or in real life that some elderly people experience dizziness when they become excessively emotionally excited. It is evident that emotional excitement has a significant impact on blood pressure.
These factors mentioned above are important causes of hypertension. The fact is that hypertension is not only present in middle-aged and elderly people. If young people do not have reasonable lifestyles and dietary habits, it can also lead to the occurrence of hypertension.
