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A viewer asks, "is high blood pressure hereditary?" Well, yes, it can be. Many things run in families,
but also, lifestyle behaviors tend to run in families. And, you know, much research
is really showing that lifestyle trumps genetics, and so even though we may have the propensity
to develop a problem, it may not express itself if we really take care of ourselves. You know,
there's a lot of things we can do for blood pressure. You know, but, first of all, you
can talk to your doctor. There's a new, a whole new field of genetic testing, and what
we call genomics or epigenetics, and it's about how lifestyle influences the way certain
genetic patterns, or the potential for certain problems may be expressed. And, that's being
shown in a lot of studies, that, you know, lifestyle really is key. So our lifestyle
behaviors are really important. You know, for blood pressure, there are so many things
that we can do. Lower stress. Lower our weight, if we're overweight. Cut down on caffeine
and alcohol. Cut down on salt, and sugar even, which is a way to help lower weight. And eat
more fresh fruits and vegetables. And that's really, that's really a key to helping with
blood pressure. So, even though things may run in families, I think it's a challenge
for all of us to improve upon how our parents live, maybe the problems that they've had.
You know, I love food. My whole family loves food. I have to be careful about the things
that I choose, and exercise to keep my weight down. So, fitness really is the key. Regular
exercise for keeping blood pressure down, keeping our weight optimal, and following
a diet that really supports, you know, good health and good blood pressure. Less sodium,
more potassium foods, which have a, you know, which are mostly in fresh fruits and vegetables,
bananas and oranges, particularly. So eating healthy foods and greens and salads, and all
those things can help. So, in review, talk to your doctor about evaluating your blood
pressure. Checking, if you don't know your family history, you just have to pay attention
to your blood pressure and other factors. Your doctor can help you do that, and also,
you know, if there's any tests that are appropriate for you. So, that's the idea. Yes, blood pressure
can run in families, but there's a lot of things you can do to prevent that.