Most people don't realize that they have high blood pressure.
Some people can have it for many years without feeling its effects. In fact, most people with high blood pressure feel no different than those who have normal blood pressure. So, how do you get high blood pressure?
An illness, like kidney disease or tumors, causes high blood pressure in 1 out of 10 people.
Unfortunately, for 9 out of 10 people, there is no answer. There are certain traits that people with high blood pressure tend to share. If you have it, then you may have a family history of high blood pressure.
You may be older, or have certain medical conditions, like diabetes. You could also be overweight, or eat a lot of salty food. African Americans are more at risk of having high blood pressure than other ethnic groups. Women increase their risk if they take birth control pills. But, simply because you have one of these traits does NOT mean that you will have high blood pressure. It just makes it a little more likely.
