Risk factors and Investigations

Risk factors:
• Age (male > 45) (female > 55)
• Obesity
• Gender (male>female)
• Unhealthy lifestyle. smoking, alcohol, sedentary life, a lot Na from salt, less K, stress
• Race. (in US afro Americans more affected)
• Family history
• Chronic conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, cholesterol, sleep apnea
• Pregnancy also could cause pregnancy (gestational hypertension)

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbp/HBP_Causes.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/DS00100/DSECTION=risk-factors

Investigations:
To ensure that a person is a chronic hypertensive, more than just 1 BP test is required, unless the BP is exceptionally high or if end-organ damage is present.
Normally it is measured 3 times, each time a week apart. The patient must not be under the influence of caffeine or any other drugs that could alter the BP.
Another way to make a diagnosis would be home BP monitoring. A device that measures the BP every 30 minutes throughout the day and night is worn by the patient. This rules out white coat syndrome.
Source: Dr. Nik Asma

(Exclude or rule out secondary causes)