High blood pressure
High blood pressure — also called hypertension — is when the force of blood pushing against your artery walls is too high, for too long.
Normally, your heart pumps blood through your arteries to the rest of your body. If the pressure inside your arteries stays elevated, it makes your heart work harder and can damage your blood vessels over time. This raises your risk for serious health problems like:
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Heart disease (heart attacks, heart failure)
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Stroke
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Kidney disease
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Eye problems
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Memory issues
Blood pressure is measured with two numbers:
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Systolic pressure (the top number): pressure when your heart beats
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Diastolic pressure (the bottom number): pressure when your heart rests between beats
A normal blood pressure reading is around 120/80 mm Hg.
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Elevated is 120–129 / less than 80
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High blood pressure Stage 1 is 130–139 / 80–89
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High blood pressure Stage 2 is 140 or higher / 90 or higher
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Hypertensive crisis (very dangerous): 180/120 or higher
High blood pressure usually doesn’t cause obvious symptoms at first — that’s why it’s sometimes called a “silent killer.” You often find out only when damage has already been done unless you regularly check it.
Would you like me to also explain what causes high blood pressure and how to lower it?
