Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood against your blood vessels is consistently too high, typically 140/90 mmHg or above.
While common, it can lead to serious health issues if left untreated.
Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers.
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The first number, called systolic, measures the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart contracts or beats.
The second number, known as diastolic, indicates the pressure in the vessels when the heart is at rest between beats.
Symptoms
Most people with hypertension don’t experience any noticeable symptoms. However, extremely high blood pressure can lead to symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision, chest pain, and more.
The most reliable way to know if you have high blood pressure is to regularly check it. If left untreated, hypertension can lead to serious health problems, including kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke.