what you need to know about high blood pressure

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By Anissa Cowley
Reviewed by Keith Ferdinand, M.D., FACC, 2009

Blood pressure is the tension exerted on the walls of the blood vessels and arteries when the heart pumps blood. High blood pressure is diagnosed as levels of 120/80 mm/Hg and above.

One in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure. Hypertension is the number-one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease, kidney damage, blindness, and many other health problems, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Many people do not even know they have a problem with high blood pressure because it usually gives no warning signs. As a result, it can go undetected for a long time. This is why high blood pressure (or hypertension) is called “the silent killer.”

The best way to prevent this is to regularly monitor your blood pressure. Many health-care clinics and pharmacies provide free blood pressure checks.

Talk to your physician or nurse about self-monitoring. With a few basic instructions, you can monitor your blood pressure at home. Learn more about home blood pressure monitoring.

Beyond self-monitoring, we’ll share some symptoms you should watch for.