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Will You Get High Blood Pressure If Your Parents Have It? Doctor Explains
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News18•10-10-2026, 21:52
Will You Get High Blood Pressure If Your Parents Have It? Doctor Explains
- •High blood pressure is increasingly affecting not just the elderly, but also young adults aged 30 to 40 in recent times.
- •Poor diet, stress, and a sedentary lifestyle are primary drivers, but genetics also play a significant role in passing the condition to offspring.
- •Dr. Tarun Kumar, Professor of Cardiology at Medanta Medicity Moolchand Hospital in Delhi, explains that genes from parents can increase children's future risk.
- •According to the American Heart Association, normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg, while levels above 140/90 mm Hg require medication.
- •If your parents have hypertension, you should inform your doctor, check your BP regularly, reduce salt intake, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent it.
Key Questions Answered
Yes, high blood pressure can be passed down through genes from parents to their children, which increases the likelihood of developing the condition in the future even if someone maintains a healthy lifestyle.
Healthy blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure of less than 120 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure of less than 80 mm Hg, totaling under 120/80 mm Hg.
If your parents have hypertension, you should inform your doctor, check your blood pressure regularly, reduce salt intake, walk daily, and manage your weight.
