Wealthy men most likely to develop high blood pressure

‘Men with higher incomes need to improve their lifestyles to prevent high blood pressure’

WEALTHY men are nearly twice as likely to have high blood pressure as men who have a lower income, a study has found.

Higher household income was more likely to make men drink alcohol every day and be obese, in contrast to wealthy women, who were more likely to engage in healthier behaviour.

More than one in four adults in the UK has high blood pressure, with an estimated one billion people living with it worldwide. High blood pressure is the leading global cause of premature death.

In a study of 4,314 people in Japan, researchers examined the relationship between household income and high blood pressure.

The income groups were under £37,000, up to £58,000, up to £73,000 and, lastly, those above £73,500.

Compared with men in the lowest income category, men in the highest income group were nearly twice as likely to develop high blood pressure.

Men who were in the middle two groups had a 50 per cent higher risk of developing high blood pressure.

Dr Shingo Yanagiya, of the Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, said: “Men with higher incomes need to improve their lifestyles to prevent high blood pressure.

“Steps include eating healthily, exercising, and controlling weight. Alcohol should be kept to moderate levels and binge drinking avoided.”

The findings were consistent regardless of age, and were independent of baseline blood pressure, work place, occupation, number of family members, and smoking.

In women, there was no significant link between income and blood pressure. Indeed, wealthier women tended to have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure.