The American Society of Hypertension discusses all aspects of this condition in their informative pamphlet, Understanding Hypertension. Follow the link below to see it.
According to this literature, the cause of most hypertension is unknown. Known factors include:
- Genetics - you can inherit the tendency to hypertension from your parents (1 parent equals greater risk than both parents).
- Being overweight
- Poor physical fitness
- Unhealthy diet
- Alcohol consumption*
- Taking medications that might increase blood pressure
*[Editor's Note: Some experts say hypertension only results from heavy drinking and that light drinking is actually healthy, but there is good evidence that this idea, much ballyhooed by the press and alcohol lobby, was due to a methodological error in the research rather than an actual health benefit to alcohol consumption.]
Other less common causes of hypertension include disorders of the kidneys or endocrine glands.
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