How Your Family History Plays a Role in Your Risk for High Blood Pressure
Did you know nearly half of American adults have chronic high blood pressure, or hypertension? Having a close relative with hypertension increases your risk of developing it, and if not managed, this condition can lead to serious complications and may even threaten your life.
Unfortunately, less than 25% of people diagnosed with hypertension have it well-managed, and researchers believe millions more Americans have high blood pressure but don’t know it.
At Dupont Private Health in Washington, DC, hypertension specialist Jean Ann Beaton, MD, monitors your blood pressure and has the experience to help you manage it if you’re diagnosed with hypertension.
If you have a family history of high blood pressure, here’s what you need to know.
Understanding high blood pressure
We diagnose chronic high blood pressure if you have consistently high readings. Blood pressure readings are made up of two numbers: the systolic reading and the diastolic reading.
The top number (systolic) tells us the pressure measured in your arteries during a heartbeat. The bottom number (diastolic) measures the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats.
Here’s a look at the categories for different readings:
Normal: below 120/80
Elevated blood pressure: 120-129 over 79
Stage 1 hypertension: 130-139 over 80-89
Stage 2 hypertension: 140/90 and above
Hypertension can take years to develop, usually without noticeable symptoms, even as it does major damage to your heart and blood vessels. This has earned it the nickname of “silent killer,” and it’s why having your blood pressure checked regularly is so important.
Untreated high blood pressure leads to many serious health complications, including:
Aneurysm
Heart failure
Heart attack
Stroke
Dementia
Kidney disease
Hypertension is a serious threat to your health. In fact, it’s so highly linked to serious and life-threatening health conditions that both the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association lowered the threshold for when it’s time to take action.
If Dr. Beaton tells you your blood pressure is elevated or high, don’t wait to seek treatment. Take control of elevated or high blood pressure early to prevent additional damage to your cardiovascular system. It could save your life.
Family history and hypertension
Studies indicate that hypertension arises due to interactions between your genes and factors in your environment. Your biological race also plays a role. Non-Hispanic black adults have the highest risk of developing high blood pressure.
One recent study found having a family history of high blood pressure is associated with higher blood pressure readings. But it’s not clear whether your family history means your genes make it more likely you’ll develop hypertension, unhealthy learned behaviors increase your risk, or a combination of both.
Additional research shows adopting positive lifestyle changes — such as improving your diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, and quitting smoking — can reduce this risk and even reverse hypertension.
Treating high blood pressure
Because your blood pressure doesn’t act in isolation from the rest of your body and life, Dr. Beaton uses an integrated approach to managing hypertension.
Prescription medications can ease the stress on your cardiovascular system by relaxing your blood vessels, so they’re part of most treatment plans.
Lifestyle changes can not only lower your blood pressure but can also reverse the condition. Some of the best ways you can reduce your blood pressure include:
Switching to a heart-healthy diet
Limiting your intake of high-sodium foods
Increasing your physical activity and exercising regularly
Maintaining a healthy weight or losing excess weight
Managing stress with healthy coping mechanisms
Quitting use of tobacco products
Minimizing your intake of alcohol
Patients with hypertension can benefit from Dr. Beaton’s concierge medicine, which gives you 24/7 connectivity with Dr. Beaton as well as unrushed same- and next-day appointments through our telehealth services and Dr. Beaton's direct line.
Stay on top of high blood pressure. Contact our Dupont Circle office to set up a consultation or request an appointment online now. Concierge patients may also reach Dr. Beaton 24/7 through telehealth or via Dr. Beaton’s direct line.
