Blood pressure is a measure of the pressure inside your blood vessels -- both while the heart is beating and while it is relaxed. Naturally,
high blood pressure is when the pressure within your blood vessels is too high. This is also known as hypertension. This article provides information on:
- What blood pressure is
- How hypertension is diagnosed
- How it affects the body
- Treatment options for hypertension.
This information about hypertension can be helpful as you take the next steps toward a healthier future.
How Is Hypertension Measured?
Blood pressure is the amount of force (pressure) that blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels as it passes through them.
As blood is pumped from your heart into your vessels, enough pressure is created to send it to all other parts of your body.
To measure your blood pressure, a fabric cuff is wrapped around your arm and then slightly inflated. The blood pressure shows up on a gauge attached to the cuff. The healthcare provider reads the numbers from the gauge as air is released from the cuff. This device that reads blood pressure is called a
sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure can also be measured with a blood pressure machine.
The two numbers that measure your blood pressure are written like a fraction: one number on top and one on the bottom. For example, what many people consider "normal" blood pressure is read as 120/80. The number on top is called the systolic pressure. It measures the pressure inside your blood vessels at the moment your heart beats. The number on the bottom is your diastolic pressure. It measures the pressure in your blood vessels between heartbeats, when your heart is resting.
Hypertension can only be diagnosed after taking several readings to find your
average blood pressure. Your
blood pressure needs to be taken at least two times, and each reading must be from a different day. If the average of these
blood pressure readings is more than 140/90, you have hypertension.
A single reading that is more than 140/90 doesn't necessarily mean that you have hypertension. However, your healthcare provider probably will want to monitor your blood pressure over time to see if it stays there. You can also have hypertension if the average of only one of the numbers (systolic or diastolic) is too high
(see Isolated Systolic Hypertension).
Risks Associated With Hypertension
Hypertension does not cause problems over days, weeks, or even months; rather, it causes problems over many years, and it can affect your entire body. By adding strain to the blood vessel walls, hypertension makes them more likely to develop a buildup of fat and
cholesterol -- also known as "hardening" of the arteries. This, in turn, puts extra strain on your heart as it pumps blood through the narrowed arteries.
Over time, the strain this condition places on the heart and blood vessels can increase the risk of certain health problems, such as:
Lifestyle changes are often the first step in
hypertension treatment. These changes often improve the quality of a person's life as well. Keep it mind that it may take three to six months before your healthcare provider sees the full benefit of these changes on your condition. Some of these changes may include:
- Exercising
- Losing weight
- Reducing salt consumption
- Changing your diet
- Drinking less alcohol.
In addition to lifestyle changes, many medications are available to control hypertension, and each one works in a slightly different way. Everyone reacts differently to medicine, so you may need to try a few different types before your healthcare provider finds the best one for you. If your doctor has prescribed pills for you, it's important to take them exactly as directed. Controlling hypertension will probably be a lifelong commitment, whether or not medications are prescribed.
How Common Is Hypertension?
Hypertension is more common than many people guess. Consider the following facts:
- More than 65 million American adults -- nearly 1 in 3 -- have hypertension
- Nearly 60 million Americans are over age 55, which means they have a 90 percent likelihood of developing this condition in their lifetimes
- African Americans are more likely to develop hypertension than any other racial or ethnic group, and tend to develop it earlier and more severely than others
- At least 18 million Americans have diabetes, which increases their chances of developing hypertension
- Approximately 122 million American adults are overweight or obese, which puts them at higher risk of developing hypertension.
Hypertension is a factor in a number of the most common conditions people develop as they get older. Thus, certain prevention measures can reduce the chances of a person developing these life-threatening or life-altering conditions. For examples of the profound medical and economic impact of this disease, think about the following facts:
- Hypertension is a factor in 67 percent of heart attacks in the United States
- This condition is a factor in 77 percent of strokes, which is the third leading cause of death in the United States
- Hypertension is the second leading cause of chronic kidney failure in the United States -- responsible for 26 percent of all cases
- The disease affects circulation -- creating a higher risk for mental deterioration and Alzheimer's
- Hypertension causes more visits to doctors than any other condition -- just a 10 percent decline in the number of visits would save $478 million each year
- This condition and its complications cost the U.S. economy more than $100 billion each year.
Closing Thoughts on Hypertension
Many people do not experience any
symptoms of hypertension or related discomfort, so they find it easy to ignore their condition. However, this significantly increases the chances of having kidney disease, a heart attack, a stroke, or other heart and blood vessel problems. Getting this condition under control may add years to a person's life.
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