Heredity and High Blood Pressure
April 16th, 2006 (High Blood Pressure)
If you are concerned about having high blood pressure in the future, then look out for the following concerns:
1. Consistency: Is there a repeating pattern? A repeating pattern would be that over 30 percent in each generation developed high blood pressure, going through both parents and all grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Ideally, you could trace back to great grandparents, great uncles, and possibly even their siblings. Search for patterns of several men or women in each family with high blood pressure.
2. Excess weight and physical fitness: Does a pattern of obesity show up? How about fitness? Do people who stay fit get high blood pressure?
3. Alcohol: Do heavy drinkers in the family get high blood pressure?
Does heredity mean you are fated to have high blood pressure? Absolutely not! In fact, heredity is not even an excuse any longer. In high blood pressure, the hereditary tendency is not a firm trait like eye color. It is simply a warning flag that says, “Take care of your body and everything will be just fine.” Basically, if you’ve inherited the tendency, you’re lucky because you know the boundary lines within which you must live.