High blood pressure, or hypertension
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is very common. Almost half of all Americans have it.1 Often there are no symptoms, so you may have high blood pressure and not know it.
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High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is very common. Almost half of all Americans have it.1 Often there are no symptoms, so you may have high blood pressure and not know it.
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. When the pressure in your vessels stays high too long, your doctor might say you have hypertension. Over time, hypertension can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and even death.
The exact causes of high blood pressure are not known. As we approach middle age, high blood pressure becomes more common. 2 Lifestyle factors, eating habits, and family medical history can play a part in your risk for developing high blood pressure. 3
Getting your blood pressure measured is the only way to find out if it is high. Your doctor usually will test your blood pressure during a well visit.
When your doctor talks to you about your blood pressure, they will tell you it’s one number over another number. Those two numbers are your systolic pressure and diastolic pressure.
The systolic is the pressure on your blood vessels when your heart pumps out blood.
The diastolic is the pressure between beats, when the heart rests. Blood fills the heart and pressure in the vessels drops.
Several factors can contribute to high blood pressure.
Risk factors you can control:
Risk factors you cannot control:
Having diabetes can also raise your risk for developing hypertension.
If you think you have some of these risk factors, talk to your doctor about your blood pressure.
In some cases, making some lifestyle changes is enough. Your doctor may suggest you take medicine to control your blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about how to control high blood pressure.
Having your blood pressure under control will help you have more healthy days and avoid other health issues.