High Blood Pressure: What You Need to Know to Stay Healthy
What is Hypertension? High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common condition affecting millions of people worldwide. It is a condition in which the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries is consistently too high, and if left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. To better understand high blood pressure, it's essential to know how blood pressure is measured. Blood pressure is measured using two numbers: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, and diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. A blood pressure reading of 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or lower is considered normal. High blood pressure is diagnosed when the systolic pressure is consistently 130 mm Hg or higher, or the diastolic pressure is consistently 80 mm Hg or higher. There are several risk factors fo...