The facts about high blood pressure, or hypertension, may surprise you. According to the American Heart Association, about one in three American adults has it. That amounts to 75 million of us. Untreated, high blood pressure greatly raises the risk for heart disease and other serious conditions. Yet many of us tend to ignore it, because often, it presents no symptoms.
During golfing's Arnold Palmer Invitational this year, Palmer began having blood pressure problems. He had to be rushed to the hospital just hours before the end of his own event.
The incident kept him from presenting Tiger Woods with his first trophy since 2008. Fortunately, Palmer's outcome was good, but would you know if you were suffering like he was?
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. It is recorded as two numbers.
The first number measures the force as your heart beats. This is called systolic pressure. The second number measures the force as your heart relaxes. This is called diastolic pressure.
A measurement of 120/80 mm Hg, for example, is read as "120 over 80." The systolic pressure is 120 mm Hg. The diastolic pressure is 80 mm Hg. The "mm Hg" stands for "millimeters of mercury."
Blood pressure measurements fall into four categories.
Normal blood pressure. Your blood pressure is normal if it's below 120/80 mm Hg. However, some doctors recommend 115/75 mm Hg as a better goal. Once it rises above 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of heart disease starts to increase.
Prehypertension. This is a condition in which blood pressure is above normal, but not yet high. Two things can show a person has prehypertension. They are a top number of 120 to 139 mm Hg, or a bottom number from 80 to 89 mm Hg. Prehypertension tends to get worse over time.
Stage 1 hypertension. This occurs when the top number is from 140 to 159 mm Hg, or the bottom number is from 90 to 99 Hg.
Stage 2 hypertension. This occurs with a top number of 160 mm Hg or higher, or a bottom number of 100 mm Hg or higher.
MayoClinic.com lists these risk factors for high blood pressure:
Sometimes, pregnancy contributes to high blood pressure as well.
High blood pressure has been called a silent killer. That's because most people who have it have no symptoms. That can be true even when blood pressure reaches very high levels.
A few people with early-stage high blood pressure may have some symptoms. They may include headaches, dizzy spells or more nosebleeds than normal. But these signs don't usually occur until it reaches a severe stage. By the time these signs appear, high blood pressure may be life-threatening.
Because there are usually no symptoms, it's important to have blood pressure measured regularly.
High blood pressure can hurt your heart and arteries by placing too much stress on them. It can also damage other organs. The American Heart Association describes how it harms various parts of your body.
Artery damage. When you have high blood pressure, the force of blood in your arteries is too high. It causes tiny tears in the artery walls, which turn into scar tissue. This scar tissue then traps bits of fat and other materials in the blood. Together they are called plaque. As plaque builds up, the arteries get narrow and harder. They can't send enough blood to the body's organs. The organs suffer because they don't get the oxygen and nutrients they need. When arteries are narrowed, there is also a bigger risk of blood clots. They can block the blood supply to other parts of the body.
Heart attack and heart failure. A heart attack is the result of a blocked blood supply to the heart. This can happen when arteries to the heart get a buildup of plaque. Sometimes plaque or a blood clot can close off an artery. The longer the artery stays blocked, the more the damage to the heart. HBP can also lead to heart failure. This means the heart can't supply a good flow of blood to the body.
Brain damage from stroke. High blood pressure damages arteries everywhere in the body. Weakened arteries in the brain put you at much higher risk of stroke. They create weak places that can rupture easily as well as areas that are more prone to blockage. Both of these problems can interrupt blood flow to brain cells. The result is a stroke.
Kidney damage. Kidneys are packed with arteries. So when high blood pressure hurts arteries, it hurts the kidneys as well. The kidneys filter blood. They rid it of waste and balance chemicals in the body. When arteries are damaged, the filters don't get the blood supply they need. So kidney function is limited. As more arteries become blocked, the kidneys may fail.
Vision loss. High blood pressure strains blood vessels in the eyes. That can damage your optic nerve and the retina of your eye. The longer it goes untreated, the higher the chance of permanent vision loss.
Erectile dysfunction, or ED. A healthy blood flow is necessary for an erection. Because high blood pressure damages arteries, it can impair blood flow and lead to ED.
Changing your lifestyle can help. Here are some of the lifestyle changes recommended on MayoClinic.com. If you have high blood pressure, be sure to talk with your doctor about taking these steps:
Many people need the help of medicines. Sometimes, lifestyle changes alone aren't enough to control high blood pressure. Your doctor may prescribe medicine, too, to keep it at a safer level.
There are many types of medicines available that work in different ways. Some relax blood vessels to make it easier for the blood to flow through. Some help your body get rid of excess salt and water. This reduces the volume of blood to help lower blood pressure.
Other medicines cause your heart to beat more slowly. Your doctor may prescribe a combination of medicines. Often, two or more together work better than just one.
If side effects or costs pose problems, don't stop taking your medicine. Ask your doctor about other options.
A lot of things you may have heard about high blood pressure just aren't true. The American Heart Association warns you about these common, and dangerous, myths.
By working with your doctor, you can reach your treatment goals and enjoy the benefits of better health.
How you sleep, eat, and relax can impact your skin. Learn how to keep it looking youthful.
How to keep skin youthfulLowering blood pressure can reduce your risk for a heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.
Read about blood pressure checksYour night’s sleep sets the tone for your day and affects your health. Figure out how you should snooze so you don’t lose a thing.
Read tips for sleeping well