High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure

Overview

What is high blood pressure?

Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Normal arteries are smooth and flexible, and blood flows easily through them. As the blood moves through your arteries, it puts pressure on the artery walls. This is your blood pressure. High blood pressure (also called hypertension) occurs when your blood moves through your arteries at a higher pressure than normal.

Symptoms

Does it have any symptoms?

Not usually. This is why it's so important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.

Causes & Risk Factors

What causes high blood pressure?

Your doctor can help you find out what might be causing your high blood pressure. The following are some common factors that can lead to high blood pressure:

  • A diet high in fat and cholesterol
  • Not exercising regularly or not exercising hard enough
  • Being overweight
  • A family history of high blood pressure
  • Tobacco use
  • Stress
  • Some birth control medicines
  • Kidney and hormone problems

Diagnosis & Tests

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. The only way you can find out that your blood pressure is too high is to check it with a pressure monitor. The higher your blood pressure is, the more often you need to check it.

Your doctor will measure your blood pressure at more than one visit to see if you have high blood pressure. When you first start treatment to lower your blood pressure, your doctor may want you to come to the office regularly. Your blood pressure will be checked at the office.

You may also be asked to check your blood pressure at home and keep track of your numbers for your doctor. High-quality automated arm blood pressure cuffs for home use can be purchased for about $40 to $60. Your doctor may want you to check your blood pressure several times in a day. Another option is to have you use an ambulatory blood pressure monitor.


Parts of a blood pressure cuff

How often should I have my blood pressure checked?

After age 18, have your blood pressure checked at least once every 2 years. Do it more often if you have had high blood pressure in the past. Your doctor may even ask you to monitor your blood pressure at home.

What do the numbers mean?

Blood pressure is really two measurements, separated by a slash when written, such as 120/80. You may also hear someone say a blood pressure is "120 over 80."

The first number is the systolic blood pressure. This is the peak blood pressure when your heart is squeezing blood out. The second number is the diastolic blood pressure. It's the pressure when your heart is filling with blood--relaxing between beats.

A normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/90, you have what is called "prehypertension," which means that if you don't take important steps, your blood pressure can turn into high blood pressure.

Treatment

How is it treated?

You and your doctor will work together to find the best way to lower your blood pressure. Treatment usually begins with changes you can make to your lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease. If these changes don't work, you may also need to take medicine.

Even if you need to take medicine, making some changes in your lifestyle can help reduce the amount of medicine you must take.

Lifestyle changes

  • Don't smoke cigarettes or use any tobacco product.
  • Lose weight if you're overweight.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables and is low in fat.
  • Limit your sodium, alcohol and caffeine intake.
  • Try relaxation techniques or biofeedback.

See "Lifestyle Changes to Help Lower Your Blood Pressure" for more information.

What about medicine?

Many different types of medicine can be used to treat high blood pressure (see "High Blood Pressure Medicines"). These are called antihypertensive medicines.

The goal of treatment is to reduce your blood pressure to normal levels with medicine that's easy to take and has few, if any, side effects. This goal can almost always be met.

If your blood pressure can only be controlled with medicine, you'll need to take the medicine for the rest of your life. You may need to take more than one medicine to help control your blood pressure. Don't stop taking the medicine without talking with your family doctor or you may increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.

Complications

Why do I have to control my blood pressure?

High blood pressure can damage many parts of the body. If you have high blood pressure, you have a higher risk for stroke, heart disease, heart attacks and kidney failure. Control of your blood pressure can reduce these risks.

Other Organizations

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

  • Am I at risk for hypertension?
  • What is my blood pressure? What do the numbers mean?
  • What is my target blood pressure?
  • What lifestyle changes do I need to make to help lower my blood pressure?
  • Is there a chance that I'll need antihypertensive medicine?
  • What are the risks and benefits of taking this medicine?
  • Could alternative therapies such as meditation, yoga or acupuncture help lower my blood pressure?

11/11/96