Risk factors

The risk factors for hypertension fall into two categories: modifiable and non-modifiable.

• Modifiable risk factors include lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption, being overweight or obese (especially in those with abdominal fat), an unhealthy diet, high salt intake, and lack of physical activity. Anxiety and stress can also cause blood pressure to rise, through raised cortisol levels. Cigarette smoking does not directly cause hypertension. However, it increases a person’s cardiovascular disease risk.
• Non-modifiable risk factors include increasing age (greater than 65 years), co-morbidities such as diabetes or kidney disease, gender (men under 65 and women over 65 tend to have higher blood pressure), ethnicity, social deprivation and a family history of hypertension.

It is common for people to have multiple risk factors, such as diabetes, an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity. In this cohort, there is a significant risk to morbidity and mortality. As a pharmacy technician, you can impact on a patient’s modifiable risk factors by engaging in shared discussions about risk factors and promoting lifestyle interventions.