What is the relationship between blood pressure and age?

The relationship between blood pressure and age is characterized by structural changes in the cardiovascular system that typically lead to increases in blood pressure as individuals get older. As people age, the arteries can lose their elasticity and become stiffer, which contributes to the development of hypertension. Additionally, there are often changes in the heart and vascular walls that further influence blood pressure regulation. These physiological changes make it more challenging for the body to manage blood pressure effectively, thus resulting in higher readings over time.

Other options suggest that blood pressure decreases with age, which generally contradicts common medical understanding. While some may experience lower blood pressure due to various factors, the overall trend is an increase. The idea that decreased artery strength specifically causes hypertension could misrepresent the complexity of cardiovascular aging. Similarly, while the nervous system's efficiency may play a role in blood pressure regulation, it is the structural cardiovascular changes that have a more direct and significant impact on blood pressure trends related to aging.