Hypertension

Blood pressure is the force of blood against your artery walls. It is similar to water going through a water hose. When you turn the water on low or medium the water smoothly moves through the hose. When you turn the water on high, a lot of water moves through the hose at one time. As more water tries to move through the hose at one time the water pressure increases. Similarly, when someone has high blood pressure or hypertension the pressure against his/her artery walls is too strong.

Overtime, hypertension can lead to heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

Risk factors and Causes

Several factors increase your risk for developing high blood pressure. Risk factors include black race, male sex, a family history of hypertension, excessive salt and alcohol intake, and obesity. Some risk factors, such as salt and alcohol intake, are lifestyle issues that can be changed. Other factors, such as your race and sex, are not controllable.

Prevention & Planning Ahead

In most cases hypertension can be prevented. Lifestyle changes such as daily exercise, reducing salt intake, and losing weight can help prevent hypertension.

Symptoms

High blood pressure is known as the "silent killer." It develops slowly and can cause serious organ damage, usually without symptoms. You most likely will not experience symptoms unless your blood pressure is severely high. You will not know you have high blood pressure until a health professional takes a blood pressure reading.

Diagnosis

Normally extensive tests are not needed to diagnose hypertension. If a blood pressure measurement shows your systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure is high, usually two more measurement are taken at separate times to confirm you have high blood pressure.

Intervention/Treatment

Hypertension treatment depends on how serious your hypertension is and whether you have other health problems, such as heart failure or diabetes. Lifestyle changes, medication, and alternative medicine may be used to treat hypertension.

Read more about Hypertension | Hypertension Glossary