Basics

• High blood pressure---hypertension---is a condition characterized by blood pressure readings above the accepted normal reading of 120/80.
  
  Blood pressure is the measurement of the pressure of blood against the artery walls. The top number, or systolic pressure, is the measurement of that pressure during the pumping of the heart. The bottom number, or diastolic pressure, is the measurement of that pressure when the heart is at rest (between heart beats).
  
  High blood pressure weakens the heart muscles over a period of time, resulting in less efficient blood circulation and therefore decreased oxygen and nutrients delivered to the body.
  
  

Prevalence

• The American Heart Association estimates that 1 in 3 adult Americans has high blood pressure---and as many as one third of those with the condition are not aware they have it.
  
  

Complications

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure directly leads to heart disease, kidney failure, strokes, heart attack or premature death, as identified by Dr. Elijah Saunders of the University of Maryland Medical Center.
  
  The American Heart Association identifies heart disease as the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. One person dies of heart disease every 33 seconds.
  
  This statistic alone make hypertension stand out as a major health concern. Heart disease is often caused by uncontrolled high blood pressure, but all areas of the body are affected by hypertension.
  
  

Symptoms

• There are no symptoms of high blood pressure. The only way to diagnose this condition is to have your blood pressure measured.
  
  

Treatment

• Lifestyle plays an important role in the control and treatment of high blood pressure. Stopping smoking, maintaining weight within healthy ranges, obtaining regular physical exercise, and eating a diet lower in LDL cholesterol are all things an individual can do to promote a more normal blood pressure.
  
  For many obese individuals diagnosed with hypertension, once their weight is reduced, blood pressure will also reduce.
  
  Taking medications to control hypertension as prescribed by your health-care provider is another important step in the successful treatment of hypertension.
  
  Dr. Saunders estimates that only 25 percent of people who are known to have hypertension are controlling it, either because they are receiving no treatment or because they are not following the treatments prescribed by their physicians.
  
  Compliance with treatment regimens is vital to the successful treatment of high blood pressure---and its potential complications---for optimal health.