High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called a silent killer, because you can have high blood pressure and not know it. Deaths related to high blood pressure continue to rise in the United States, and worldwide, high blood pressure affects nearly one in every three adults. For High Blood Pressure Education Month this month, let’s learn some of the blood pressure basics to help those of you with high blood pressure know how to better understand and control your condition.
What is blood pressure?
Your heart pumps blood to different parts of your body through your blood vessels, which include your capillaries, veins and arteries. Blood pressure refers to how much the blood presses against the walls of your arteries as it passes through.
What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?
Your blood pressure changes throughout the day, depending on your activity. However, if your blood pressure stays consistently above normal, your doctor may diagnose you with hypertension. The higher your blood pressure, the more you are at risk for other health issues, including heart disease, a heart attack or stroke.
How do you know if you have high blood pressure?
The only way to know your blood pressure is to get it measured. Blood pressure is measured using two numbers:
For example, if your doctor tells you your blood pressure is “125 over 80,” 125 is your systolic pressure, and 80 is your diastolic pressure. Both are measured in millimeter of mercury (mm Hg), a common unit for measuring any kind of pressure, including your blood.
While everyone is different, and your doctor may talk with you about what is “normal” or “high” in your specific situation, blood pressure is typically categorized like this:
Why is high blood pressure dangerous?
Over time, the force and friction of the blood pressing against your artery walls damage delicate tissues, starting with your heart and your arteries and then harming other organs such as your brain and kidneys.
What are the risk factors for high blood pressure?
Some risk factors are tough to overcome, because they are part of who you are. For example, if your parents or other close relatives have high blood pressure, you are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, too. Also, the older you are, the higher your risk. However, most risk factors are under your control, and you can make lifestyle changes to help prevent or manage high blood pressure.
How do you prevent or manage high blood pressure?
If you have elevated blood pressure or have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you can lower your blood pressure through healthy lifestyle changes. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you and your good health, including
You can also talk to your doctor about medications to manage high blood pressure.
Getting control of your blood pressure takes day-to-day commitment. Talk with your doctor if you think you are at risk for developing high blood pressure, and ask questions about management if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure.
Developed by Mountain-Pacific Quality Health, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) for Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Territories of Guam and American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 12SOW-MPQHF-AS-CC-20-26
Is BP m/c trustworthy?
Hi, Krish - thanks for your question. Like any product out there, there's a wide array to choose from, and some are better than others. We would recommend you talk with your primary care provider to get advice specific to your health and health care needs. Your health care provider may also like to work with you on tracking and reporting your blood pressure information. Good luck to you!