Is high blood pressure hereditary?

Presenter - So is it hereditary high blood pressure?

Martin - Yes it really is, it's quite unusual to find somebody with hypertension who has absolutely no family history, it's quite unusual that. Almost always, mother, father, brother, sister – somebody will have it. It's not always the case but that again comes back to having your blood pressure measured is – if you're one of these shrug your shoulders, I don't know but my dad died at 80 of a stroke, as a doctor you're thinking probably had high blood pressure

Presenter - Right. So if it's hereditary, you're not necessarily going to get it?

Martin - No absolutely right

Presenter - But -

Martin - Not necessarily -

Presenter - It's good to be aware and have it checked out?

Martin - That's absolutely right

Presenter - So when you fill in the form at the doctors' surgery and it asks what your family history is, that's why heart attacks or strokes is quite -

Martin - Absolutely

Presenter - Important

Martin - Definitely. Because it will set our mind thinking this person probably ought to have a blood pressure check, and I would say most surgeries these days when somebody joins a practice, one of the basic things to do will be to check their blood pressure because you know, don't want to generalise, but you know you do get your typical man who does not go to the doctor, and I'm always very very wary of men who haven't been to see the doctor for 15 or 20 years, because you're thinking this person could easily be walking around with a -

Presenter - Storing up trouble aren't they?

Martin - Exactly right, they are the people who will just have a heart attack in the street or somewhere like that and actually retrospectively you'll think they had high blood pressure