High blood pressure (HBP) is a common condition. In the United States, about one in three adults has HBP.
Certain traits, conditions and habits can raise your risk for HBP:
Older age. Blood pressure tends to rise with age. About 65 percent of Americans aged 60 or older have HBP. HBP doesn’t have to be a routine part of aging. You can take steps to keep your blood pressure at a normal level.
Race/ethnicity. HBP can affect anyone. However, it’s more common in African American adults than in Caucasian or Hispanic American adults. In relation to these groups, African Americans:
Tend to get HBP earlier in life
Often have more severe HBP
Are more likely to be aware that they have HBP and to get treatment
Are less likely than Caucasians to achieve target control levels with HBP treatment
Have higher rates than Caucasians of early death from HBP-related problems, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure
HBP risks vary among different groups of Hispanic American adults. For instance, Puerto Rican American adults have higher rates of HBP-related death than all other Hispanic groups and Caucasians. However, Cuban Americans have lower rates of HBP-related death than Caucasians.
Other risk factors. A family history of HBP raises your risk for the condition. Long-lasting stress also can put you at risk for HBP. You’re also more likely to develop HBP if you have prehypertension. Prehypertension means that your blood pressure is in the 120–139/80–89 mmHg range.
Risk factors for children and teens. Prehypertension and HBP are becoming more common in children and teens. This is due in part to a rise in overweight and obesity among children and teens.
African American and Mexican American youth are more likely to have HBP and prehypertension than Caucasian youth. Also, boys are at higher risk for HBP than girls.
Like adults, children and teens need to have routine blood pressure checks, especially if they’re overweight.