High Blood Pressure & Personality: Exploring Gender & Type A/B Traits

According to the Texas Heart Institute, about 73 million people have high blood pressure (HBP). HBP has risk factors that include gender, heredity, stress, and diet.

Gender is an Indicator

• Until age 45, men have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure than women. From ages 45 to 64, the risk is the same. After age 64, women have the greater risk.

Four Personality Types

• In the 1970s, people began to talk about "Type A" (driven) and "Type B" (relaxed) personalities. Newer types include "Type C" (introverted) and "Type D" (hostile, negative).

Type D Risk

• Type A personality was once thought to have a higher risk of HBP, but now Type D is considered by some researchers to have the greater risk. However, studies are inconclusive, as is the link between HBP and personality type.

Stress

• While the American Heart Association states that chronic stress alone is probably not linked to HBP, the Texas Heart Institute argues that high stress, especially when combined with other emotional factors, can lead to hypertension.

Lowering Risk

• While nothing can be done about gender risk, or heredity, stress reduction may reduce the risk of HBP, as will quitting smoking, eating a smart diet, and maintaining a healthy weight.