Description of High Blood Pressure

According to the American Heart Association, nearly one in three Americans has high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Of those who have high blood pressure, nearly one third do not know it. Therefore, untreated high blood pressure if often referred to as "the silent killer."

Blood Pressure

• Blood pressure (BP) is created when the heart pumps blood through the arteries. The force, or pressure, as the heart pushes blood into the arteries is called the diastolic. The systolic pressure is the pressure created as the arteries resist the blood flow.

Factors That Affect BP

• Blood pressure can change depending on whether a person is lying down or standing up. Exercise can temporarily raise blood pressure. Also, feeling nervous or excited can cause a temporary increase.

What Is High Blood Pressure

• Any baseline (average) blood pressure reading for an adult where the systolic number exceeds 120 and the diastolic number is greater than 80 constitutes the beginnings of high blood pressure.

What The Numbers Mean

• According to the American Heart Association, for an adult, a reading of 120 over 80 or less constitutes normal blood pressure. A systolic number of 120 to 139 over 80 to 89 constitutes pre-hypertension, and a reading of 140 over 90 or higher is high blood pressure.

Risk Factors Of High BP

• Persons suffering from high blood pressure are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke. They also have higher rates of kidney failure, due to the fact that increased BP puts stress on these and other vital organs.

Treatments

• To treat high blood pressure, a doctor will prescribe a blood pressure--lowering medication from one of several classes of drugs. The physician will evaluate you and ask questions about your family's medical history to determine the correct drug to prescribe.