However there are several risk factors which predispose a person to hypertension. Hypertension is usually diagnosed in men between 30-50 years of age.
Blacks have twice the incidence.
Obesity is one factor as well as smoking, excessive sodium intake, elevated serum lipids and alcohol intake. Stress may result in increased in sympathetic nervous system activity. In all of these cases hypertension and hypertensive crisis can be prevented or controlled. Even though not many people with hypertension experience hypertensive crisis, there are still a significant number of events. Any patent may have a diastolic pressure over 120 mm Hg is suffering from a hypertensive urgency.