High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makesthe heart work too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). High blood pressure is a problem that won’t go away without treatment and changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Risk

It raises the risk of stroke and heart disease, which are the first- and third-leading causes of death among Americans. An elevation of the systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart (cardiac) disease, kidney (renal) disease, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke (brain damage). The higher the diastolic blood pressure the greater the risk for heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.

The risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) increases with age. Regular exercise can help prevent high blood pressure, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. To reduce the risk of injury while exercising, start slowly.

People who take illegal drugs like amphetamines and cocaine or drink a lot of alcohol are also at risk of developing the condition. High Blood Pressure and smoking are major risk factors for having a heart attack or stroke later in life. People who manage their high blood pressure with a treatment program lower their risk of having serious complications as they get older.

Elevated blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, the main cause of death in the United States. According to research studies, the risk of dying of a heart attack is directly tied to blood pressure,primarily systolic hypertension. The higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk, even with blood pressure in the normal range.

High blood pressure also raises the risk of “embolism:” the formation of tiny abnormal blood clots that form when blood flow is abnormal and can lodge in an assortment of inopportune locations including the brain. If your blood pressure is greater than 120/80, and you have other risk factors, like diabetes, you may need treatment. Have your blood pressure checked at each regular health care visit, or at least once every 2 years (people without diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease).

Treatment

Treatment begins with changes you can make to your lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease . The key for any highblood pressure treatment is to bring the condition under proper control. If your blood pressure is often greater than 140/90, you may need treatment. Blood Pressure Treatment Usually Fails: More than 43 million Americans have high blood pressure (hypertension), but less than one-third of them have achieved targeted levels of blood pressure.

REMEMBER THESE KEY POINTS The biggest problem with treatment of high blood pressure is not a lack of knowledge about it, but a lack of the application of our current knowledge. However, high blood pressure is easily detectable and usually can be controlled. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is indirectly responsible for many deaths and disability resulting from heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.