Familial hypertension: Can hypertension run in families?

Hypertension is referred to as a high blood pressure in the arteries. High blood pressure is dangerous because it can exist for a long time without demonstrating any overt symptoms.Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Additionally, it is a major contributor to stroke risk, chronic kidney disease, and other health issues.

“We usually associate high blood pressure with a sedentary lifestyle or older age. But high blood pressure can also be caused due to a genetic condition, affecting those who are otherwise healthy and fit. A parent with hypertension can pass along a gene to a child, thus, increasing the individual’s risk of developing hypertension in future,” says Neeraj Gupta, Founder & CEO of Genes2Me.”

According to research, the impact of hereditary factors on hypertension is anywhere from 20 to 55 percent. A family lifestyle that includes high blood pressure risk factors like smoking or an unhealthy diet can also contribute to familial hypertension.

It is important to know about your family's medical history. Just like a history of certain cancers can determine your risk for cancer, your genetic predisposition to hypertension can be revealed through genetic tests.

If high blood pressure runs in your family, it is crucial to share this information with your health care provider and regularly monitor your blood pressure. Additionally, you can also take the genetic predisposition test to analyze the risk of hypertension associated with your genes. The genetic test can provide insights into whether you are at an elevated risk of hypertension.

If your genetic predisposition includes high blood pressure, you can start lowering your risk through heart-healthy behaviors. This implies that even if you have a gene that increases your risk of developing hypertension, leading a healthy lifestyle that includes regular aerobic activity, quitting smoking, and eating a low sodium diet may be able to offset the inherited risks.