Genes, lifestyle and blood pressure

HHS HealthBeat (June 17, 2009)
Genes, lifestyle and blood pressure

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Smoking, not exercising, and drinking in more than moderate amounts, can raise the risk of hypertension. So can genetic factors. And a study finds that genes and lifestyle can have interrelated risks.

Nora Franceschini of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health reported it from data on more than 3,600 American Indians. She says there was clear evidence related to smoking, and evidence regarding alcohol use and physical activity.

Franceschini’s advice:

[Nora Franceschini speaks] "Be more active. Consider smoking cessation and reduction of alcohol intake, particularly in people with a high genetic risk for cardiovascular disease and hypertension."

The study in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss
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Last revised: June, 17 2009

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Genes, lifestyle and blood pressure