Genomics and Chronic Disease Hypertension and Family Health History

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Screening for Individuals Without a Family History

• Blood pressure should be measured every two years beginning at age 18. (1)

(1) American Heart Association, Mayo Clinic, United States Preventive Services Task Force, National Institutes of Health

Screening for Individuals With a Family History

• Family history is a risk factor for hypertension but there are no specific screening guidelines for individuals with a
  family history of hypertension. (2)
• Talk to your healthcare provider to make a personalized plan to maintain your health

(2) American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, Mayo Clinic

What is a Family Health History?

A record of a person's current and past illnesses, and those of his or her parents, brothers, sisters, children, and other blood relatives. A family health history shows the pattern of certain diseases in a family, and helps to determine risk factors for those and other diseases. (3)

(3) National Cancer Institute

Hypertension Risk Factors and What You Can Do About Them

Things You Can Change

• Obesity: Greater weight leads to greater risk.
• Diet: A diet high in fat and calories and low in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits increases risk.
• Exercise: An inactive lifestyle increases risk.
• Caffeine: Increases blood pressure
• Salt: Eating too much salt raises some people's blood pressure. (4)
• Alcohol: Heavy and regular use of alcohol can increase blood pressure dramatically. (4)
• Stress: Increases risk
• Smoking: Smoking injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries. (5)

(4) American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.html?identifier=2142 (Non-MDH Site)

(5) Nation Heart, Lung and BLood Institute
http:// www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/prevent/q_smoke/q_smoke.htm (Non-MDH Site)

Things You Can't Change

• Family History: If your parents or other close blood relatives have high blood pressure, you're more likely to
  develop it.(4)
• Age: Risk increases with age.
• Race/Ethnicity: African-Americans develop high blood pressure more often than whites, and it tends to occur
  earlier and be more severe. (4)
• Sex: The number of women with hypertension increases with age and is higher than men after age 54. (6)

(6) Fields LE, Burt VL, Cutler JA, Hughes J, Roccella EJ, Sorlie P. The burden of adult hypertension in the United States 1999-2000. Hypertension 2004;44(4):398-404.

What Can You Do If You Have a Family History?

• Lose weight if you are overweight
• Eat a balanced diet including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and lean meats
• Get active
• Drink alcohol sensibly
• Manage your stress
• Regular screening
• Talk to your healthcare provider
• Talk to your healthcare provider about your family health history of hypertension
• Regular risk assessment and counseling about behavioral change by a healthcare provider
• Regular blood pressure screening
• Engage in healthy behaviors
• Take medications to control your blood pressure

Your Family Health History…

• Know your past.

• Act in the present.

• Protect your future.

Date last reviewed: August 2008