Pre-hypertension, a known precursor to high blood pressure, runs in families. Being aware of this could potentially be life saving for anyone with a family history of hypertension because preventive measures and treatment options can mitigate the damage done to the heart.
The finding came from a study of twins that was reported in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Pre-hypertension means having either systolic blood pressure (the top number) of 120 to 139 or diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) of 80 to 89, or both.
According to MedPage Today, the large cross-sectional study of identical and nonidentical twins and their siblings and family members"documented substantial heritability as well as joint genetic determination for blood pressure." High blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and death. The most recent data from the American Heart Association, collected in 2008, showed that high blood pressure was the primary cause of death of 61,005 Americans.
Here at ThirdAge, we want to add that hypertension is common among post-menopausal women – even those who had low blood pressure prior to menopause. Be sure to get your blood pressure checked and be faithful about taking meds if they are prescribed for you. The life you save could be your own!
