Family history, age, gender, race, chronic kidney disease, lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, being overweight or obese, high cholesterol, smoking and sleep apnea are high blood pressure risk factors.
Dr. Ted Feldman, Medical Director of Prevention and Community Health with Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, says just because you have high blood pressure or a family history of it, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to die prematurely as a result. There is effective treatment that normalizes the blood pressure, and it can increase life expectancy dramatically.