High Blood Pressure: Genetics, Age and Lifestyle

So is high blood pressure really genetic? Yes,cases of secondary high blood pressure, where blood
hypertension is inherited, but this does notpressure rises rapidly over a short period and is
automatically mean that you will develop it yourself ifcaused by some other illness, which is usually a
most of your family members have it. However, it iskidney disorder. Knowing that a child has high blood
not yet known exactly how it is inherited. Somepressure is not a very useful predictor of what will
characteristics and some rare diseases can be causedhappen as the child ages. Although there is a general
by inheriting single genes. But it is also known, withtendency for newborns with high blood pressure to
certain rare exceptions, that high blood pressure isbecome adults with hypertension, the association
hardly ever inherited in this simple way.remains debatable. In a study of fourteen year olds
In most cases, high blood pressure depends on thewith untreated high blood pressure (170/100 mmHg)
interaction of various inheritable factors, which mayexamined twenty years after, only 17% had
only become activated only in the presence ofhypertension twenty years later.
certain environmental conditions. This is known asThe causes of high blood pressure in people in their
genotype-environment interaction. The most30s are generally the same as in those individuals
important of these conditions is probably prematurity,who are older, regardless of smoking and drinking
obesity in adolescence and as a young adult, sodiumbehavior. In such cases, it should be noted that most
intake and alcohol intake particularly in early adulthood.causes of high blood pressure in middle age and later
In any case, however, it is pointless to argue aboutlife are still uncertain. The main difference is that in
nature versus nurture, or environment versusyounger adults, there are more cases of secondary
inheritance. It is more essential to acknowledge thathigh blood pressure caused by other conditions, often
there may be a possibility pf developing high bloodthose disorders involving the kidney and the adrenal
pressure and that one should be sensible about whatglands. Everyone aged under 40 found to have high
one eats and drinks and the amount of exercise thatblood pressure should be referred to a consultant for
one does.individual examinations to see if it is being caused by
High blood pressure may begin in childhood.such conditions. For the occasional person with very
Nevertheless, knowing this is of little practical use.high blood pressure (sustained diastolic pressure of
There is already evidence that weight control in case120 mmHg or more), physicians should still monitor
of childhood obesity, perhaps on a vegetarian diet,these individuals closely. For most people in this age
may be a good prophylactic against later high bloodbracket with raised blood pressure but below this
pressure in adulthood, but not much data to supportlevel, routine referral for these medical examinations
any other specific preventive actions. Generally,is not necessary - providing that the physician
screening children for blood pressure is essentially aorganizes a few simple tests and make a careful
method of research, not a useful procedure inevaluation of responses to treatment. Most people
general practice and, if done at all, it must be donewho then need a medical specialist, not just for
by highly trained medical personnel. The fact that highroutine tests but a comprehensive and detailed
blood pressure begins with inheritance or in childhoodsearch for the causes of raised blood pressure, can
does not mean that you actually had high bloodthen usually be identified so that these individuals can
pressure in childhood - just that the tendency forget the attention they deserve, as many of these
you to develop it as you grow older is already there.underlying causes are very difficult to find.
Screening is not useful for finding the equally rare