Related Media: High Blood Pressure and the DASH Diet

Related Media: Controlling Your High Blood Pressure

Definition

Blood pressure is the force that blood puts on the blood vessel walls. Blood pressure measurements include 2 numbers:

• Systolic pressure: top number, normal reading is 120 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or less
• Diastolic pressure: bottom number, normal reading is 80 mmHg or less

There is a range of what high blood pressure is. Your doctor will talk to you about what your pressure should be. An example of blood pressure ranges from the American Heart Association (AHA) include:

• Blood pressure is considered elevated, but not yet hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure) when the:
  • Systolic pressure is 120-129 mmHg and the
  • Diastolic pressure is 80 mmHg
• Stage 1 hypertension:
  • Systolic pressure is 130-139 mmHg and/or
  • Diastolic pressure is 80-89 mmHg
• Stage 2 hypertension:
  • Systolic pressure is greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and/or
  • Diastolic pressure is greater than or equal to 90 mmHg

High blood pressure puts stress on the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, and blood vessels. Over time, it can cause severe damage and illness.

Organs Impacted by High Blood Pressure

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Causes

The body has a number of steps to help keep blood pressure in a healthy range. It is not clear what changes happen that lead to hypertension. Factors that may play a role include:

• Genetics
• Low physical activity levels
• Dietary choices
• Overweight or obesity

Risk Factors

High blood pressure develops over time. It is most common in older adults, especially postmenopausal women.

Factors that may increase the risk of high blood pressure include:

• Overweight
• Excess alcohol use
• Smoking
• Use of oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Family history
• Kidney disease
• Diabetes
• High-fat, high-salt diet
• Stress

Symptoms

High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms.

If blood pressure reaches extreme levels, symptoms may include:

• Headache
• Blurry or double vision
• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness

Diagnosis

High blood pressure is often found during a doctor's visit. Blood pressure is measured using an arm cuff and a special device. If the reading is high, you will come back for repeat checks. High blood pressure will be confirmed after more than 2 readings over more than 2 visits.

A doctor's office can make some people anxious. This can cause higher than normal blood pressure. You may be asked to measure your blood pressure at home or in another location.

Treatment

Treatment will focus on reducing blood pressure. Improving the blood pressure will help to decrease the stress on important organs. It can also decrease the risk of:

• Heart disease
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Kidney damage

Treatment may need to be adjusted over time. Options may include:

Prevention

To help reduce the risk of high blood pressure:

• Eat a well-balanced diet. It should be rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods. It should also be low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol.
• Be physically active often. Aim for at least 3-4 days per week. Some activity everyday is best.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• If you smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to quit.
• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Moderate is 2 or fewer drinks per day for men and 1 or fewer drinks per day for women and older adults.