Question

Do you agree that High Blood pressure could be caused by either genetics OR lifestyle? Or do you think it's some combination of the two?

(in at least 300-500 words) Source citations required

Answer 1

The amalgamation of heredity with unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking cigarettes and eating an unhealthy diet leads to higher incidence of high blood pressure

Sometimes, high blood pressure tends to run in families. Individuals whose parents suffer from hypertension are at higher risk of developing the condition, particularly if both parents are affected. However, the inheritance pattern is as yet unknown.

Rare, genetic forms of hypertension follow the inheritance pattern of the individual condition.

Hypertension can have a number of causes. Types of hypertension include:

1. Secondary hypertension, however, results from other disorders that raise blood pressure in addition to other problems.
2. Rare, genetic forms of hypertension are caused by mutations in particular genes, many of which help in controlling the balance of fluids and salts in the body and affect blood pressure.
3. Essential hypertension causes are not well understood till date. Essential hypertension is a complex condition with a variety of factors, both genetic and environmental, contributing to its development.

More than 100 genetic variations have been associated with essential hypertension. While these variations have been found more commonly in people with essential hypertension than in unaffected individuals, none are common causes of the condition.

The most-studied genetic association in essential hypertension is with genes involved in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is a step-wise process that produces hormones to regulate blood pressure and the balance of fluids and salts in the body. Because these genes play an integral role in normal blood pressure control, researchers suspect that variations in them might impair blood pressure control and contribute to hypertension.

Other genes associated with essential hypertension are important for the normal function of the lining of blood vessels. Changes in these genes are thought to impair this cell layer (endothelial dysfunction). Such changes may result in vessels that are abnormally constricted or narrowed, which raises blood pressure. Still other genes have been linked to hypertension risk, although the roles most of them play in development of the condition are still unclear.

Environmental factors also contribute to hypertension. In addition to race and age, activity level, alcohol consumption, and salt intake influence blood pressure. Other disorders, such as obesity, diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea (cessation of breathing) also increase the risk of developing hypertension.

Researchers nowadays suspect that epigenetic changes to the DNA also play a role in development of essential hypertension. Epigenetic changes modify DNA without changing the DNA sequence. They can affect gene activity and the production of proteins, which may influence blood pressure.