Risk Factors, Pt 2

Hypertension: higher than normal pressure in the arteries, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood. It can be exacerbated by high-sodium diets, kidney diseases, and stress or highly emotional situations. High blood pressure affects about 1 in 6  people on the planet, or over a billion people.

According to CDC, about 30% of Americans 18 and over have hypertension, with cases on the rise. Despite hypertension's widespread presence, it's not always treated: one study found that only 50% of people with hypertension took steps to treat it, esp. minority groups. The Center for Disease Control estimates that a 10% boost in treatment could save 14,000 lives a year in the United States alone.

Stress: Stress releases hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol, in a primitive "fight or flight" mechanism. The hormones constrict the blood vessels so blood will more quickly reach the important internal organs, but neglects the extremities. Since many problems encountered in the modern day cannot be taken care of through fleeing or attacking, the body may remain in stress mode, the blood vessels still constricted and in the danger zone.

Age and Gender: Over time, the elasticity of our blood vessels begins to diminish, like an old rubber band. Our hearts have to work harder. Hypertension commonly manifests in men in their mid-40s, and women in their mid-50s. 

Race: Genetics are closely tied to hypertension, whether it be within immediate family or over a whole geographic area. Hypertension much more common with African Americans than Whites in U.S.--41% compared to 27%.

Obesity: The larger the body size, the greater volume of oxygen and nutrients that needs to be transported by blood vessels. This extra work puts strain on the heart, putting individuals at a greater risk of a cardiac event.

Alcohol Consumption: This one's actually a two-way street. Moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to improve healt: it raises levels of helpful HDL (high-density lipoprotein) which can help prevent clotting, by up to 20 percent. The American Heart Association suggests a max of two drinks for men, and one drink for women, with a drink defined as:

-One 12 oz beer

-4 oz of wine,

-1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits, or 

-1 oz. of 100-proof spirits.

Excessive alcohol consumption, however, floods the system with triglycerides, a type of lipid

that, like cholestrol and LDL, causes plaque and all those other things related to coronary artery

disease.