High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is when the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is consistently too high. This means your heart has to work harder than normal to pump blood through your body.
What happens in high blood pressure?
- Blood pressure is measured with two numbers:
- Systolic pressure (the top number): Pressure when your heart beats.
- Diastolic pressure (the bottom number): Pressure when your heart rests between beats.
- Normal blood pressure is around 120/80 mmHg.
- High blood pressure is generally considered when the readings are 130/80 mmHg or higher.
Why is high blood pressure important?
If it stays high over time, it can damage your blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and other organs, increasing the risk of serious health problems like:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Vision loss
Common causes of high blood pressure:
- Being overweight
- Lack of physical activity
- High salt intake
- Stress
- Genetics/family history
- Certain medical conditions (like kidney disease)
- Smoking and alcohol use
How is it managed?
- Lifestyle changes like eating healthy, exercising, reducing salt, and quitting smoking
- Medications prescribed by a doctor if needed