Hi. The reasons for your blood pressure measurements are unclear; however, you most likely have essential hypertension. Essential hypertension (primary hypertension, or just hypertension) is the designation we give to the vast majority of patients with elevated blood pressures. A primary cause is usually not identified, and physicians usually chalk it up to consequences of aging, diet, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, etc. Even if you do everything right, individuals still carry some risk of hypertension due to differences in salt sensitivities, natural loss of elasticity of the blood vessels, bulid up of calcium in the blood vessels (makes the vessels stiff), and gradual age related changes in neuroendocrine function. Now, there is also a category called secondary hypertension. In this category, physicians have identified specific disease processes, that if treated, can also cure the hypertension. Each disease by themself is rare, but as a whole, they can comprise up to 10 % of all causes of hypertension. Controlling blood pressure is important as it increases your risk of strokes, heart attack and kidney disease. You should see your doctor to see if your clinical condition warrants evaluation for secondary causes; however, if you don t you may be a victim of bad genetics. Regardless of your current blood pressure, hypertension is a very treatable disease, and so, if you get yourself on medicines and get your BP under control, you shouldn t have any problems. Now, regarding your vegetarian lifestyle. just remember that a vegetarian diet can be loaded with fat just like an animal diet, so vegetarianism just by itself does not necessarily equate a healthier lifestyle (Coconut oil is vegetarian but high in saturated fats). In addition, exercise is a critical component to a healthy lifestyle, and a person s ability to exercise may, in fact, be the most powerful predictor of future mortality. Anyways, good luck!