High Blood Pressure: The Basics

What is high blood pressure?
 

Blood pressure is the force of blood against your artery walls as it circulates throughout your body. It’s normal for blood pressure to rise and fall throughout the day.
 
But if your blood pressure stays high for too long, it causes problems. It makes the heart work harder to pump blood. It also causes the arteries to stretch,
making them more likely to rupture. 

High blood pressure increases your risk for other serious illnesses, including heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Over time, high blood pressure can result in damage to the heart itself, and heart failure may result.

How common is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure can happen to anyone, and the risk increases with age. If you are overweight or obese or if you have diabetes, the odds of having high blood pressure are even greater.

One in three American adults—a total of 73 million people—has high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, is nicknamed “the silent killer” because it has no symptoms or warning signs, yet it can be deadly.

Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. Fortunately, high blood pressure is easy to diagnose and it can be managed and treated with lifestyle changes and sometimes, medication.
 

   ► High Blood Pressure: Risk Factors

   ► High Blood Pressure: Keeping it Under Control

   ► High Blood Pressure: By the Numbers