Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a condition where your blood pressure is consistently high. High blood pressure is defined as pressures that are above 139/89. Many factors can contribute to developing high blood pressure. Some of these risks include, obesity, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, and family history.
People that have high blood pressure are often at a greater risks of having stokes, heart attacks, or developing heart failure. High blood pressure is a leading cause of chronic renal failure.
Blood pressure is measured by placing an inflatable cuff on your arm and measuring the pressure. The first number is the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The second or lower number is measuring the pressure of your arteries between the beats.
Prehypertension is the upper number or systolic number ranging from 120 to 139 mm Hg(millimeters of mercury) and the lower number or diastolic number ranging from 80-89 mm Hg. Prehypertension tends to get worse over time. Usually within four years prehypertension converts to hypertension for one in three adults ranging in age from 35 to 64 and one in two adults over the age of 65.
Some people don't even know they have high blood pressure. This is why it is often referred to as "the silent killer". Some have symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, blurred vision or a general feeling of fatigue.