This document discusses risk factors for hypertension. It categorizes risk factors as either non-modifiable (age, sex, genetics, ethnicity) or modifiable (obesity, salt intake, saturated fats, dietary fiber, alcohol, physical activity, environmental stress, socioeconomic status). It provides details on how each of these factors influences blood pressure and the risk of developing hypertension.

1. Prepared by: Kajal Pradhan
Intern at dept. of community medicine
UHTC, Ims and Sum Hospital.

2. NON MODIFIABLE RISK
FACTORS
MODIFIABLE RISK
FACTORS
 Obesity
 Salt intake
 Saturated fats
 Dietary fibre
 Alcohol
 Physical activity
 Environmental stress
 Socio economic status
 Other factors
 Age
 Sex
 Genetic factors
 Ethnicity

5.  Rises with age in both sexes.
 Greater in those with higher initial blood
pressure.
 Age represents the accumulation of
environmental influences and effects of
genetically programmed senescence in body
systems.

6.  At adolescence, men display higher average
level.
 Late in life the difference narrows.
 Post-menopausal changes in women may be
the contributory factor for this change.

7.  Blood pressure levels are determined in part by
genetic factors and that the inheritance is
polygenic.
 Evidence is based on twin and family studies. The
blood pressure values of monozygotic twins are
usually more strongly correlated than those of
dizygotic twins.
 Family studies have shown the children of two
normotensive parents have 3% possibility of
developing hypertension whereas possibility is 45%
in children of 2 hypertensive parents.

8.  Black americans of african origin have been
demonstrated to have higher blood pressure
levels than whites.
 Average difference in blood pressure between
two groups varies from slightly less than
5mmHg during the second decade of life to
nearly 20mmHg during the 6th.

10.  Epidemiological observations have
identified obesity as a risk factor for
hypertension. Greater the weight gain
greater the risk of high blood pressure.
 Central obesity indicated by an increased
waist to hip ratio, has been positively
correlated to high blood pressure in several
populations.

11.  High salt intake i.e 7-8 gm per day, increases blood
pressure proportionately. Low sodium intake has
been found to lower the blood pressure.
 Potassium antagonizes the biological effects of
sodium and thereby reduces the blood pressure.
Potassium supplements have been found to lower
blood pressure of mild to moderate hypertensives.
 Other cations such as calcium cadmium and
magnesium have also been suggested as of
importance in reducing blood pressure levels.

12.  The term hypertension itself implies a
disorder initiated by tension or stress.
 Psychological factors operate through mental
processes consciously or unconsciously to
produce hypertension.
 Studies have shown that there is a presence
of higher level of catecholamines in
hypertensives than normotensives.

13.  Incidence of higher level of blood pressure
has been noted in higher socio-economic
groups as compared to lower socio-economic
groups.
 It may be attributable to the difference in
life style of different groups.

14.  Saturated fats : Raises blood pressure as well as
serum cholesterol.
 Alcohol :Alcohol consumption raises systolic
pressure more than diastolic.
 Physical activity: by reducing body weight it may
have an indirect effect on blood pressure.
 Dietary fibres: risk of hypertension is inversely
proportional to the consumption of dietary fibres.
Most fibres reduce plasma total and LDL cholesterol.

15.  Oral contraceptives: commonest present
cause of secondary hypertension because of
estrogen component in combined
preparation.
 Other factors include noise, vibration,
temperature and humidity.