What Is High Blood Pressure?

Hypertension is a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher. Both numbers are important. Nearly 1 in 3 American adults have high blood pressure. Once hypertension develops, it lasts a lifetime. The good news is that it can be treated and controlled. Hypertension is known as the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms. Some people may not know they have until they have trouble with their heart, brain or kidney. When high blood pressure is not found and treated, it can lead: The heart to grow, which can lead to heart failure. The small bulges (aneurysms (AN-risms u)) to form in blood vessels. The roads are the main artery of the heart (aorta); arteries in the brain, legs and intestines, and the artery leading to the spleen. Blood vessels in the kidneys to reduce, which can cause kidney failure. Arterial in the body to "harden" faster, especially those in the heart, brain, kidneys and legs. This can cause a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure or amputation of part of his leg. Blood vessels in the eye to burst or bleeding, which can cause changes in vision and can lead to blindness. What is blood pressure? Blood is carried to the heart of all parts of the body vessels called arteries. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Each time the heart beats (about 60-70 times a minute at rest), it pumps blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats, the heart pumps. This is called systolic (SIS - TOL-ik) pressure. When the heart is at rest, in the meantime, blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic (di-a STOL-ik) pressure. Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers, systolic and diastolic pressures. Both are important. Usually they are written before or one above the other, such as 120/80 mmHg (measured in millimeters of mercury, a unit of pressure). When the two measurements are written, the systolic pressure is the first or the page number, and diastolic pressure is the second or bottom number (for example, 120/80). If your blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is "120 over 80." Blood pressure changes during the day. It is lowest as you sleep and rises when you get up. It can also increase when you are excited, nervous, or active. Nevertheless, for most of your waking hours, blood pressure remains roughly the same when you are sitting or standing still. This level should be less than 120/80 mm Hg. When the level remains high, 140/90 mm Hg or higher, you have high blood pressure. With hypertension, heart works harder to fight the arteries, and your chances of a stroke, heart attack and kidney are more important. What is normal blood pressure? A blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg is considered normal. In general, lower is better. However, very low blood pressure can sometimes be a cause for concern and should be examined by a doctor. Doctors classify blood pressure under 140/90 mmHg as normal or prehypertension. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. Prehypertension in blood pressure between 120 and 139 for the page number, or between 80 and 89 for the number low. For example, the pressure of 138/82, 128/89, 130/86 are all in the prehypertension range. If your blood pressure is prehypertension range, it is more likely that you will end up with high blood pressure at least to take steps to prevent it. What is hypertension? A blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher is considered high blood pressure. Both numbers are important. If one or both numbers are generally high, of hypertension. If you are being treated for high blood pressure and repeated readings in the normal range, you always have high blood pressure. There are two levels of hypertension: Phase 1 and Phase 2 (see table below). Categories in blood pressure among adults Levels (in millimeters of mercury, mm Mercury), a Category Systolic (top to bottom number) Diastolic (number) Normal Less than 120 Less than 80 Prehypertension 120-139 80-89 Hypertension Stage 1140 -159 90-99 Stage 2160 or more 100 or more A For adults 18 years and older who are not on medicine for hypertension; have not a short-term serious illness, and do not have other conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease. Note: When systolic and diastolic blood pressures fall into different categories, the higher category should be used to classify the level of blood pressure. For example, 160/80 mm Hg would be stage 2 high blood pressure. There is one exception to the above definition of high blood pressure. A blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg or higher is considered high blood pressure in people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease.