Health Tip: Having High Blood Pressure

Are you at risk?

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(HealthDay News) -- Having high blood pressure puts you at higher-than-normal risk of heart disease and stroke, among other medical problems.

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Here are risk factors that may make you more likely to develop high blood pressure, courtesy of the American Heart Association:

• Being significantly overweight or obese.
• Eating a diet that's too high in sodium (salt).
• Drinking alcohol to excess, or too frequently.
• Getting insufficient exercise.
• Feeling too much stress or anxiety.
• Having a family history of high blood pressure.
• Being African-American.
• Being age 35 or older.

-- Diana Kohnle