High blood pressure, or hypertension, means that the pressure of blood against the artery walls is elevated. High blood pressure is the most common chronic adult illness in the United States. There is no cure for high blood pressure, but it can be controlled.
Use the links below to learn more about the causes, risk factors, diagnoses and for high blood pressure.
What do the blood pressure measurements mean? Blood pressure measurements are expressed using two numbers, one written over the other. The top number is the systolic blood pressure; it is the pressure of blood against the artery walls when the heart is contracting and pushing blood out. The lower number is the diastolic blood pressure; it is the pressure of blood against artery walls when the heart is resting and filling with blood between heartbeats.
What are the causes of high blood pressure? High blood pressure occurs when the heart pumps blood with too much force, or when the blood vessels are too narrow because of cholesterol plaques (a condition called atherosclerosis) or too stiff from calcium (a condition called arteriosclerosis) to allow blood to flow as it should. It is normal for blood pressure to change during the day and in response to increased activity or stress, or even cold weather.
In the vast majority of people, the exact cause of high blood pressure is not known.
A small number of people have secondary hypertension, which is high blood pressure caused by medication or another medical condition such as renal disease or atherosclerosis.
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Age. The older you are, the greater the chance that high blood pressure will develop
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Race. African Americans are more likely to have high blood pressure and to develop it at a younger age
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Genetics. High blood pressure also can be hereditary
These risk factors can't be changed, but some lifestyle factors, such as being overweight, smoking, consuming too much salt, getting too little exercise or consuming too much alcohol, can be controlled.
How is high blood pressure diagnosed? High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms; the only way to know if you have it is to have your blood pressure checked. Having a high blood pressure measurement one time does not necessarily mean you have hypertension. Usually, three measurements that show high blood pressure on three occasions are needed to diagnose hypertension.
What should my blood pressure be? Optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80. You have hypertension if your resting systolic pressure is consistently 140 or greater and/or your diastolic pressure is consistently 90 or greater. A systolic pressure of 120 to 139 and a diastolic pressure of 80 to 89 is considered pre-hypertension and means you are at risk for high blood pressure.
How is high blood pressure treated? Treatment decisions are based on your blood pressure measurement, the presence or absence of heart or kidney damage, and the presence of other risk factors. Your doctor may give you
medications right away or may have you try lifestyle changes such as regular exercise or change in diet for up to one year. Depending on your treatment plan and medications prescribed, your doctor will tell you how often to have your blood pressure checked.
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Lose weight. Being overweight increases your risk of developing high blood pressure. A weight loss of five to 10 pounds can lower and help control blood pressure
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Exercise regularly. For healthy adults, regular aerobic exercise - walking, running, bicycling or swimming laps - can prevent and reduce high blood pressure
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Control salt in your diet. Limit sodium to less than 2,300 mg a day
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Limit alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, add weight and make blood pressure control more difficult
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Increase potassium intake. A high intake of potassium may improve your blood pressure control. Not getting enough potassium may actually increase blood pressure
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Quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes does not cause chronic high blood pressure, but smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease
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Eat less fat. A low-fat diet may lower blood cholesterol and the risk for coronary artery disease
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Take your medications. If your doctor prescribes medication, take it as directed
After your blood pressure is controlled, you should continue to have it checked regularly. Usually, you will not have any symptoms to tell you if your blood pressure is elevated. See your doctor at least once a year to make sure your blood pressure is under control.
What are the health risks of high blood pressure? Even though you can't see, hear or feel blood circulation, a high blood pressure level can sneak up on you and create significant health risks. It can affect your brain, eyes, arteries, kidneys and heart.
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Stroke: High blood pressure causes arteries to narrow. So, less blood gets to parts of your body, including your brain. If a blood clot blocks one of the narrowed arteries, a stroke may occur
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Blindness: High blood pressure can eventually cause blood vessels in the retina of the eye to leak, burst or bleed and can cause blindness
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Arterial Disease: High blood pressure speeds the process of hardening arteries, thus speeding the buildup of cholesterol and fats in the blood vessels like rust in a pipe
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Kidney Failure: Over time, high blood pressure can narrow and thicken the blood vessels of the filtering apparatus in the kidneys (hypertensive nephropathy). Then the kidneys filter less fluid and waste builds up in the blood
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