High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Uncontrollable Risk Factors: Part 4

Part 4, Family History: An Uncontrollable Risk Factor of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is inherited in 30-60% of all cases. The risk factor of family history applies to younger adults, under the age of 65. When you have a family member with high blood pressure, your risk for high blood pressure increases more than a person in another family without high blood pressure. Though this is perceived as fact, there is still question as to why it's the case. Because high blood pressure is a major contributor to heart disease, the family history risk falls to the teenagers and children in the family. A family history doesn't just include high blood pressure. It includes the past and current illnesses of the blood relatives in your family. Providing this information to your medical professional is very helpful when she determines the patterns and risk factors for other diseases, not just high blood pressure. It's quite interesting to note that family history not only includes blood relatives, it also includes spouses and siblings! Findings for this thought is based on the same diets and environmental factors that contribute to high blood pressure, as well as other diseases.

What else?

High blood pressure is linked with family history, along with depression. The two seem to almost go hand-in-hand. Studies seem to reveal that the extent or severity of the depression was linked to if one or both parents had high blood pressure.

The science behind it

It's believed the DRD4 gene is used by cells in the body to make the receptor for dopamine, a chemical that sends messages between the cells. Best know for its influence on the brain where it is involved with movement and pleasure, dopamine is suspected to having more functionality. Studies suggest the difference in these receptors is the cause to personality and behavioral traits. It's this gene that's now expected to play a role in high blood pressure. Further studies may reveal how DRD4 interacts with the kidney, to discover who needs treatment at the earliest possible time, and how to develop the perfect drugs that can lower high blood pressure by injecting it near the kidneys, where the chemical dopamine functions. Currently, drugs are unable to do that. It's hoped these studies will make it possible to predict high blood pressure and to understand the encompassing involvement DRD4 plays with the kidneys and high blood pressure.

Don't assume

It is proven if you have the uncontrollable risk factor of family history for high blood pressure, it doesn't mean you will develop high blood pressure. However, if you do develop high blood pressure, then learn everything you can! Become an informed and intelligent person who just may happen to develop high blood pressure. Manage the risk factors you can with wise decisions and make needed changes to live with your high blood pressure. Sources: http://adam.about.com/reports/000014_3.htm