According to the American Heart Association, approximately 72 percent of us have high blood pressure, or hypertension. An elevated blood pressure level is a serious condition that can lead to heart disease and stroke. It can also damage arteries and lead to deadly blood clots.

Sodium

High salt intake is one of the leading causes of hypertension. A healthy adult should consume fewer than 2,300 mg, or approximately 1 tsp., of sodium daily. Check ingredient labels to see how much sodium is in the packaged foods you eat.

Abnormalities in the Arteries

Damaged, diseased and blocked arteries are responsible for many cases of hypertension. Plaque buildup in your arteries, caused by eating foods high in fat and cholesterol, hardens the arteries and blocks blood from flowing to your heart.

Obesity

High blood pressure occurs twice as often in obese people than those at a healthy weight. The heart needs to work harder to pump oxygen-rich blood to the heart, which can raise blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Race

Hypertension is considerably more common in African-Americans. The National Institute of Health reports that high blood pressure affects 39 percent and 43 percent of African-American males and females, respectively.

Family History

Genetics accounts for about 30 percent of people with elevated blood-pressure levels. If several of your relatives, including parents, grandparents and siblings, have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you could be as well.

Source

2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

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