How Family History Raises Your Risk of High Blood Pressure

A significant risk factor for high blood pressure (hypertension) is having a close blood relative (like a parent) with high blood pressure. Research published in the journal Medicine suggests that the odds of having hypertension are about 3.5 times higher if you have a family history of the condition.

Having a family history doesn’t guarantee a person will develop high blood pressure. And if you do, there are steps you can take to help keep yourself healthy.

For example, you can talk to your healthcare provider to learn more about your other risk factors, especially ones you can influence. These may include your whether you smoke, your physical activity, your drinking habits, your diet, and more. Making healthy choices in these areas can decrease your risk of developing high blood pressure; it can also reduce high blood pressure and help blood pressure medications work better for you.

It's important to talk to your healthcare provider about any family history of high blood pressure, so that they can monitor your blood pressure and make recommendations to keep you healthy.