1 in 3 adults have high blood pressure (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a condition that increases an individual’s risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease. The good news is 80% of heart disease & strokes can be prevented by monitoring health, addressing behavioral risk factors, and making healthy lifestyle choices (World Health Organization).
In one of the largest genomic studies ever conducted, an internal research team looked into the heritability of blood pressure, and found that 29 regions of the genome influence the person’s susceptibility to developing hypertension. While having one of the variants was linked to a minimal increase of developing hypertension, having multiple variants was linked to a much higher risk of developing hypertension. These genetic variants are common; each variant existing in at least 5% of the population. It is estimated that 35-65% of variance in blood pressure is due to genetics, with the remaining 35-65% due to environmental and lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, exercise and stress.
So what does this mean for you, if your parents have high blood pressure? A study conducted by John Hopkins University found that individuals who had two parents with early-onset hypertension, were 20 times more likely to develop hypertension by age 35. If high blood pressure runs in your family, it could be well worth your while to start monitoring your blood pressure early in life. The good news is that 35-65% of hypertension is preventable and can be managed with proper lifestyle habits, diet, and exercise.
Need help in monitoring your blood pressure? Health Gauge can measure estimated blood pressure without the need of a blood pressure cuff. What’s more, Health Gauge tailors its lifestyle advice to you, helping you on your health and fitness journey. For natural ways to normalize your blood pressure, and to keep it within a healthy range, check back for our upcoming blog on a nutrition plan that can help lower your blood pressure and improve your heart health.