Hypertension is caused by lifestyle habits (drinking, smoking, stress, diet, physical activity, weight) and predetermined factors (genetics, age, ethnicity/race ). Even if a person is born with a higher risk of hypertension due to genetics or ethnicity, that does not mean they will suffer from it; this individual could develop lifestyle habits to prevent hypertension. Hypertension is a common cardiovascular disease (Hoeger, 2009, p. 334). Hypertension is also called “high blood pressure”. Blood pressure is a measure of the force exerted by blood on the artery walls (About High Blood Pressure, 2011). The greater the pressure placed on the artery walls when the heart pumps, the higher the individual's blood pressure will be. Blood pressure may be high (hypertensive) due to plaque buildup in the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis (Hoeger, 2009, p. 339). This plaque buildup causes the arteries to narrow, and in turn, the heart must pump more forcefully to deliver needed blood throughout the body. Plaque buildup in the arteries is caused by many factors such as nutrition, lack of physical activity and/or being overweight or obese. Other factors that cause hypertension include stress, race/ethnicity, age, alcohol, smoking, and genetics (Understanding Your Risks for High Blood Pressure, 2011). Topics such as race/ethnicity, age and genetics cause high blood pressure and these are factors in your life that you cannot fully control because if you are grouped in a certain area you automatically run higher risks than others. On the other hand, smoking, alcohol and stress are factors that can be easily manipulated and if treated correctly...... middle of paper ...... art Association. Accessed November 21, 2011, from www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/UnderstandYourRiskforHighBloodPressure/Understand-Your-Risk-for-High-Blood-Pressure_UCM_002052_Article.jsp#.TsgtfLKgmuIWeder, A. (nd). Genetics and hypertension. The JACQ. Retrieved November 21, 2011, from deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75304/1/j.1524-6175.2007.06587.x.pdfWhat is high blood pressure. (nd). Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic. Retrieved November 21, 2011 from http://www.ngdc.com/pages/161/what-is-high-blood-pressureWhelton, Paul. "Hypertension." American Heart Association. Np, and Web. November 21, 2011. http://hyper.ahajournals.org/content/38/5/1112.fullWood, S. (July 13, 2005). Hypertension in adults reduces life expectancy and increases the number of years lived with cardiovascular disease. MedScape. Retrieved November 21, 2011 from www.medscape.com/viewarticle/538732