Hypertension is a condition better known as high blood pressure. It occurs when the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is too high.

Over time if left untreated, it can cause several serious health problems:

• Kidney damage
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Vision loss
• Peripheral artery disease (clotting in the arteries)
• Angina (chest pain caused by lack of oxygen-rich blood to the heart)

What makes high blood pressure especially dangerous is that most often, there aren’t any obvious warning signs that you have it. Almost half of adults in the United States have the condition and many do not know it.

Fortunately, by being proactive, you can get your blood pressure checked and take steps to help keep it at a healthy level.

Learn your Numbers
A routine health exam will let you know if your blood pressure is too high.

Your doctor will measure both your systolic blood pressure (pressure on the artery walls when the heart beats) and your diastolic pressure (pressure on the artery walls when the heart relaxes between beats). The American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for healthy blood pressure is less than 120 systolic and 80 diastolic (120/80).

A person may be at risk for serious problems if their blood pressure reading is higher than 140/90. The good news is that there are a number of medicines and lifestyle changes a doctor can suggest to treat the issue.

Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure

There are a number of things that can raise your risk of high blood pressure, such as:

• Diabetes
• Heredity
• Gender
• Smoking
• Age
• High cholesterol
• Obesity (weight)
• Not being active

Preventing and Treating High Blood Pressure

If you don’t have high blood pressure, there are a few simple steps you can take to help make sure you never will. These same steps can also help people who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure lower theirs.

• Stay a healthy weight. Losing as little as five to 10 pounds may help lower your blood pressure. Check your body mass index (BMI), which measures your weight in relation to your height and offers guidelines for your weight.
• Improve your diet. Start by cutting your salt intake and limiting sugar. Aim for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, beans, skinless poultry and lean meats and fish.
• Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol. Smoking temporarily raises blood pressure. Drinking too much alcohol can also raise it. Limit the amount you drink. For women, that’s no more than one alcoholic drink per day. For men, it’s no more than two.
• Be active. Even a little exercise, such as brisk walking for 30 minutes or longer five days a week helps. Staying active helps cut high blood pressure, control weight and lower stress.

Take steps now to keep your blood under control. Be sure to get an annual health exam. While there, talk with your doctor about your risk for high blood pressure and heart disease.

Sources: Health Threats from High Blood Pressure,   American Heart Association, 2025; Understanding Blood Pressure Readings,   American Heart Association, 2025