Hypertension is a diet and lifestyle phenomena, not genetic. It is epigenetic, what we do to our genes with what we eat and our activities. 100 years ago it was mainly the rich and wealthy who developed this disease. Now it is widespread and interestingly enough apart from age, one of the biggest determinates of hypertension is the level of education. The lower the level of education, the higher the risks of hypertension. This does not mean you have to go study a degree on the topic but that you must become better informed.
Hypertension is a global issue and despite the additional pharmaceuticals used for it each year it is getting worse. In 2010, it was estimated that 1.4 billion people globally had hypertension, with 14% controlled to SBP, mmHg below 140, which contributes to 18 million cardiovascular deaths annually. In 2014/15, close to 6 million Australians (34%) aged 18 years and over had high blood pressure or were taking medications. Of these, more than two thirds (68%) had uncontrolled or unmanaged high blood pressure (not taking medication), representing 4 million adult Australians. Australian children aged 10-12 years the threshold for hypertension was exceeded in 3.1% and prehypertension in 3.0% of children and this is on the rise. So it is definitely not genetic.
Studies show that between one in 2 and one in 3 US adults has high blood pressure (hypertension) at an estimated nearly $2000 higher annual healthcare expenditure compared with their non-hypertensive peers. Not to mention all the pain and suffering it adds to people’s lives. In China the prevalence of hypertension in adults increased from 27.2% in 2002 to 33.5% in 2010 and continues to increase.
Hypertension contributes to about 50% of cardiovascular events worldwide and 37% of cardiovascular-related deaths in Western populations. Hypertension is the leading cause of preventable mortality worldwide, contributing to over 9 million deaths per annum, predominantly owing to cardiovascular disease.
If you are serious about your health and lowering your blood pressure you can do something about it.
The Complete hypertension solution which is now available in our membership or as a stand alone Masterclass. You can lower your blood pressure naturally and improve all the other health conditions related to it.
References
Pediatr Nephrol Actions. 2019 Jun;34(6):1107-1115. doi: 10.1007/s00467-019-04206-w. Epub 2019 Feb 18. The Population-Based Prevalence of Hypertension and Correlates of Blood Pressure Among Australian Children Nicholas G Larkins 1 2 3 , Armando Teixeira-Pinto 4 5 , Siah Kim 6 7 , David P Burgner 8 9 10 , Jonathan C Craig 4 5 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-019-04206-w
Nat Rev Nephrol . 2020 Apr;16(4):223-237. doi: 10.1038/s41581-019-0244-2. Epub 2020 Feb 5. The Global Epidemiology of Hypertension Katherine T Mills 1 2 , Andrei Stefanescu 1 , Jiang He 3 4 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-019-0244-2