High Blood Pressure is called the “silent killer”.

What Is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure is a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher. Both numbers are important.

Nearly one in three American adults have high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops it usually lasts a lifetime. The good news is that it can be treated and controlled.

Blood Pressure is measured….

Blood pressure is expressed as one number over another. The top number is the systolic pressure, or the pressure on arteries as the heart contracts or beats. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure, or the pressure on arteries as the heart relaxes between beats. Someone is said to have hypertension when the blood pressure is at or above 140/90 mm Hg. (millimeters of mercury, the unit for measuring blood pressure). People with blood pressures between 130/85 and 139/89 may have borderline hypertension, and this too can cause problems.

Who gets High Blood Pressure?

Your chances of getting high blood pressure are also higher if you:

• Are overweight
• Are a man over the age of 45
• Are a woman over the age of 55
• Have a family history of high blood pressure
• Have a “prehypertension (120-139/80-89)”

Other things that can raise blood pressure include:

• Eating too much salt
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Not eating enough potassium
• Not exercising
• Taking certain medicines
• Stress that is long-lasting

What is normal blood pressure?
A blood pressure reading below 120/80 is considered normal. In general, lower is better. However, very low blood pressures can sometimes be a cause for concern and should be checked out by a doctor.

There are two levels of high blood pressure: Stage 1 and Stage 2 (see the chart below),

 

 

 

 

When should I seek treatment?

Seeking early treatment is key to preventing the potentially serious consequences of hypertension.