High blood pressure—also known as hypertension—is a condition that increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, coronary heart disease, and other serious health problems. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the inside walls of arteries.
The harder your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries are, the higher your blood pressure rises. Over time, the wear and tear caused by untreated high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels and vital organs.
High blood pressure is nicknamed “the silent killer” because it usually causes no symptoms (though, on occasion, hypertensive individuals may experience headaches). Many people have the problem for years without knowing it. Yet just because high blood pressure is symptomless doesn’t mean it is harmless. In fact, it may be doing serious damage inside your body while it goes undetected.
Scientists aren’t sure exactly what causes this common form of high blood pressure, which makes up 90 to 95 percent of cases in adults. Primary hypertension isn’t directly attributable to any one underlying condition – it is caused by a combination of factors. However, changes in the arteries over the years are often associated with higher blood pressure.
Treatment for high blood pressure can help control the condition and prevent or delay related health problems. The goal is to get blood pressure below the high range. A healthy lifestyle is the first line of defense against high blood pressure. Your lifestyle choices can go a long way toward preventing high blood pressure. If you don’t have high blood pressure now, adopting healthy habits can reduce your risk of ever getting it. If you already have the condition, the same lifestyle can help lower your blood pressure and decrease your risk of developing serious complications.