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Are You at Risk for High Blood Pressure?

Blood Pressure

There are risk factors that increase your chances of developing High Blood Pressure. Some you can control, and some you cannot.

Risks you can control:

  • Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke
  • Diabetes
  • Being obese or overweight
  • High cholesterol
  • Unhealthy diet (high in sodium, low in potassium, and drinking too much alcohol)
  • Physical inactivity

Other Risks:

  • Getting older
  • Being African American
  • Having family members with high blood pressure
  • Having kidney failure, diabetes, or some types of heart disease
  • Having a lot of stress
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