Who gets high blood pressure?

You're more prone to high blood pressure if:

• you're male
• you're older - blood pressure rises with age, and many people in their 60s and 70s will have high blood pressure
• you're of African, African Caribbean or South Asian descent
• there is heart attack, stroke or hypertension in your family

Your lifestyle can also play a part. You have a higher chance of developing blood pressure if you:

• are overweight
• smoke
• don't get enough exercise
• eat too much salt and/or saturated fat
• drink too much alcohol (more than 3-4 units a day for men, more than 1-2 units a day for a women)

Is high blood pressure linked to other conditions?

Patients with hypertension often have other medical problems, such as:

• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• High cholesterol
• Obesity (being overweight)

It's important to discuss your medical history with your doctor to see if you have another condition that needs treatment.