3.3. Knowledge of Hypertension and Risk Factors That Cause Hypertension
Most respondents (85.9%) reported that their normal blood pressure value was up to 140/90 mmHg, 7.3% reported that it was up to 150/90 mmHg, 6.3% reported up to 160/90 mmHg, and one person reported 170/90 mmHg. The respondents were presented with a list of 18 factors (e.g., environmental, genetic, lifestyle) that may influence the occurrence of AH.
3.3.1. Factor: The Presence of Hypertension in Parents
One out of every two people surveyed (52.7%, N = 108) reported that their parents had hypertension. In three cases out of ten, the mother was hypertensive (30.2%, N = 62), in one in nine cases, the father was hypertensive (11.7%, N = 24), and in one in ten cases, both parents had hypertension (10.7%, N = 22).
The opinion that the presence of hypertension in parents increases the risk of their children developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by one in four respondents (26.8%, N = 55), “rather agreed” with by one in three respondents (35.6%, N = 73), “rather disagreed” with by 6.3% (N = 13) of respondents, and “totally disagreed” with by 2% (N = 4) of respondents. Three in ten respondents (29.3%, N = 60) did not know anything about the issue.
The respondents with higher education were more likely to agree with the above view than those with a primary and secondary degree of education (
p = 0.040) (
Table 3).
3.3.2. Factor: Obesity
The view that obesity increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by one in two respondents (52.2%, N = 107), “rather agreed” with by one in four respondents (26.3%, N = 54), “rather disagreed” with by 4.4% (N = 9) of respondents, “totally disagreed” with by 2.9% (N = 6) of respondents and stated as unknown by one in seven respondents (14.1%, N = 29).
Women were more likely to agree with the above view than men (
p = 0.014) (
Table 4).
3.3.3. Factor: Excess Salt in the Diet
The view that excess salt in the diet increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by four out of ten respondents (43.9%, N = 90), “rather agreed” with by one in three respondents (31.2%, N = 64), “rather disagreed” with by 2.9% (N = 6) of respondents, and “totally disagreed” with by 3.9% (N = 8) of respondents, and 18.0% (N = 37) had no knowledge about the subject.
The respondents with higher education were more likely to agree with the above view (
p = 0.038) (
Table 5).
3.3.4. Factor: Smoking Cigarettes
The view that daily smoking of traditional cigarettes increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by one in two respondents (47.8%, N = 98), “rather agreed” with by one in four respondents (23.9%, N = 49), “rather disagreed” with by 2.4% (N = 5) of respondents, “totally disagreed” with by 3.4% (N = 7) of respondents, and unknown by one in five respondents (22.4%, N = 46).
The view that occasional smoking of traditional cigarettes increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by one in two respondents (12.2%, N = 25), “rather agreed” with by nearly one in four respondents (22.9%, N = 47), “rather disagreed” with by 18% (N = 37) of respondents, “totally disagreed” with by 6.8% (N = 14) of respondents, and unknown by four in ten respondents (40%, N = 82).
The primary and secondary education respondents were more likely to agree with the above view (
p = 0.019) (
Table 6).
The view that smoking electronic cigarettes increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by one in five respondents (22.0%, N = 45), “rather agreed” with by one in five respondents (21.5%, N = 44), “rather disagreed” with by 7.3% (N = 15) of respondents, and “totally disagreed” with by 4.4% (N = 9) of respondents. Nearly one in two respondents (44.9%, N = 92) has no opinion on the subject.
The respondents with higher education were slightly more likely to agree with the above view (
p = 0.005) (
Table 6).
3.3.5. Factor: Alcohol Consumption
The view that moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by 6.3% (N = 13) of respondents, “rather agreed” with by one in five respondents (22.0%, N = 45), “rather disagreed” with by three in ten respondents (29.3%, N = 60), and “totally disagreed” with by 6.8% (N = 14) of respondents. One in three respondents did not have an opinion about the subject (35.6%, N = 73).
The respondents with primary and secondary education were slightly more likely to agree with the above view (
p = 0.028) (
Table 7).
The view that excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by one in three respondents (37.6%, N = 77), “rather agreed” with by one in four respondents (26.3%, N = 54), “rather disagreed” with by 8.3% (N = 17) of respondents, and “totally disagreed” with by 3.9% (N = 8) of respondents. One in four respondents had no opinion on the subject (23.9%, N = 49).
3.3.6. Factor: Shift work
The view that shift work increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by 6.3% (N = 13) of respondents, “rather agreed” with by one in five respondents (19.0%, N = 39), “rather disagreed” with by one in four respondents (19.5%, N = 40), and “totally disagreed” with by one in nine respondents (11.7%, N = 24), and four in ten respondents (43.4%, N = 89) did not have an opinion about the subject.
The respondents who did not suffer from hypertension were more likely to agree with the above view (
p = 0.037) (
Table 8).
3.3.7. Factor: Drinking Coffee and Energy Drinks
The view that drinking 2–3 cups of coffee every day increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by one in ten respondents (10.2%, N = 21), “rather agreed” with by one in five respondents (21.5%, N = 44), “rather disagreed” with by one in four respondents (26.8%, N = 55), and “totally disagreed” with by one in ten respondents (9.8%, N = 20), and 31.7% (N = 65) did not have an opinion about the subject.
The respondents without hypertension were more likely to agree with the above view (
p = 0.018) (
Table 9).
The view that consumption of energy drinks increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by 15.1% (N = 31), “rather agreed” with by one in four respondents (23.4%, N = 48), “rather disagreed” with by one in ten respondents (10.2%, N = 21), and “totally disagreed” with by 6.3% (N = 13) of respondents. Nearly one in two respondents did not know about this issue (44.9%, N = 92).
The respondents who did not suffer from hypertension were more likely to agree with the above view (
p = 0.030) (
Table 9).
3.3.8. Factor: Aging
The view that aging increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by one in seven respondents (14.6%, N = 30), “rather agreed” with by one in three respondents (34.6%, N = 71), “rather disagreed” with by one in ten respondents (10.7%, N = 22), and “totally disagreed” with by 7.8% (N = 16) of respondents, and 32.2% (N = 66) had no opinion on this subject. Among those who suffer from hypertension, one in three (35.7%) had no opinion on this subject.
There was no statistically significant relationship between aging and demographic characteristics of respondents (
Table 10).
3.3.9. Factor: Moderate Daily Physical Activity
The view that moderate daily physical activity increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by 2.4% (N = 5) of respondents, “rather agreed” with by 7.3% (N = 15) of respondents, “rather disagreed” with by one in three respondents (36.1%, N = 74), and “totally disagreed” with by one in four respondents (27.3%, N = 56). One in four respondents did not know about the subject (26.8%, N = 55).
The respondents with primary and secondary education were more likely to agree with the above view (
p = 0.011) (
Table 11).
3.3.10. Factor: Female/Male Sex
The view that being a woman increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by 4.4% (N = 9), “rather agreed” with by 3.4% (N = 7), “rather disagreed” with by one in four respondents (23.4%, N = 48), and “totally disagreed” with by one in four respondents (24.9%, N =5 8) of those surveyed. Nearly one in two respondents did not know about the subject (43.9%, N = 90).
The respondents with primary and secondary education were more likely to agree with the above view (
p = 0.032) (
Table 12).
The view that being male increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by 7.3% (N = 15) of respondents, “rather agreed” with by one in eleven respondents (8.8%, N = 18), “rather disagreed” with by one in five respondents (19.0%, N = 39), and “totally disagreed” with by one in five respondents (20.0%, N = 41). Nearly one in two respondents did not know about the issue (44.9%, N = 92).
The respondents with higher education were slightly more likely to agree with the above view (
p = 0.012) (
Table 12).
3.3.11. Factor: Air Pollution (Smog)
The view that air pollution increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by one in six respondents (15.6%, N = 32), “rather agreed” with by one in three respondents (35.6%, N = 73), “rather disagreed” with by one in nine respondents (11.2%, N = 23), and “totally disagreed” with by 7.8% (N = 16) of respondents, and three in ten respondents (29.8%, N = 61) had no opinion on this subject.
The respondents with primary and secondary education were more likely to agree with the above view (
p < 0.001) (
Table 13).
3.3.12. Factor: Noise
The view that noise increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by one in ten respondents (10.7%, N = 22), “rather agreed” with by one in four respondents (26.8%, N = 55), “rather disagreed” with by 17.6% (N = 36) of respondents, and “totally disagreed” with by 7.8% (N = 16) of respondents, and one in three respondents (37.1%, N = 76) had no opinion on this subject.
The respondents with primary and secondary education were more likely to agree with the above view (
p < 0.001) (
Table 14).
3.3.13. Factor: Travel to High Mountains, above 2500 Meters above Sea Level
The view that traveling to high mountains increases the risk of developing hypertension was “totally agreed” with by 8.3% (N = 17) of respondents, “rather agreed” with by one in five respondents (22.0%, N = 45), “rather disagreed” with by 18% (N = 37) of respondents, and “totally disagreed” with by one in ten respondents (9.8%, N = 20), and four in ten respondents (42%, N = 86) had no opinion on this subject.
The respondents with primary and secondary education were slightly more likely to agree with the above view (
p = 0.024) (
Table 15).