Hypertension
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against your artery walls, and when it stays too high it strains your blood vessels.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, occurs when the pressure inside your arteries remains higher than normal. Arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. When pressure stays high, it makes your heart work harder than it should.
Hypertension matters because it can quietly strain your blood vessels and organs. Without treatment, it increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other serious conditions. Many people feel well, so regular blood pressure checks are important.
Symptoms
Most people with hypertension have no symptoms. You can feel normal even when your numbers are high.
When blood pressure becomes very high, symptoms may include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness or feeling light-headed
- Blurry or changed vision
- Chest discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Nosebleeds, though less common
These symptoms can have many causes. The only way to know your blood pressure is to measure it.
These may be signs of a medical emergency.
Causes & Risk Factors
High blood pressure develops for different reasons. Some causes directly raise pressure inside the arteries. Risk factors increase the likelihood that hypertension will occur.
Causes
In many adults, no single cause is found. This type is called primary hypertension. It occurs when the arteries become stiffer and narrower, which increases resistance to blood flow. The heart must push harder to move blood forward, raising pressure inside the vessels.
Secondary hypertension has a clear medical cause. Possible causes include:
- Kidney disease
- Hormone disorders
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Certain medications, such as some anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, or birth control pills
Treating the underlying condition can improve blood pressure in some cases.
Risk Factors
Some risk factors can be changed. Others cannot.
Modifiable risk factors:
- High salt intake
- Low physical activity
- Carrying excess body weight
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol use
- Chronic stress
- Poor sleep
Non-modifiable risk factors:
- Older age
- Family history of hypertension
- Male sex at younger ages and female sex after menopause
Hypertension is more common in some racial and ethnic groups, including Black adults. Social, environmental, and access-to-care factors all play a role.
Diagnosis
Clinicians diagnose hypertension by measuring your blood pressure with a cuff placed around your upper arm. The cuff gently tightens and records two numbers:
- Systolic pressure, the top number, measures pressure when your heart beats.
- Diastolic pressure, the bottom number, measures pressure when your heart relaxes.
A diagnosis usually requires elevated readings on more than one visit. Blood pressure can change during the day, so repeated measurements help confirm the pattern.
Your clinician may:
- Check your blood pressure at several appointments
- Ask you to monitor your numbers at home
- Order blood or urine tests to look for related conditions
- Check your heart with an electrocardiogram if needed
Home readings of 135/85 mm Hg or higher often support a diagnosis. In the clinic, readings of 140/90 mm Hg or higher on more than one visit commonly confirm hypertension.
Treatments
The goal of treatment is to lower blood pressure to a safer range and reduce the risk of heart, brain, and kidney disease. Your care plan depends on your numbers, overall health, and personal risk factors. Not everyone needs the same approach.
Lifestyle Changes
Healthy habits form the foundation of treatment.
Your clinician may recommend:
- Reducing salt in your diet
- Eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins
- Being physically active most days of the week
- Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight
- Limiting alcohol
- Stopping smoking
- Improving sleep habits
Even small changes can improve blood pressure.
Medications
Many people need medication in addition to lifestyle changes.
Common types of blood pressure medicines:
- Help relax and widen blood vessels
- Reduce the amount of fluid in the body
- Slow the heart rate
- Block hormones that raise blood pressure
Your clinician will choose medication based on your health history and other conditions. Some people need more than one medication. Adjustments are common, especially early in treatment.
Procedures
Procedures are not part of routine treatment for most people with hypertension.
If a specific condition causes high blood pressure, such as narrowing of a kidney artery, a procedure may be considered. These cases are uncommon and require specialist evaluation.
Living Well & Prevention
Hypertension often requires long-term care. Many people manage it successfully with regular follow-up and healthy habits.
You can take an active role by:
- Checking your blood pressure as recommended
- Taking medications exactly as prescribed
- Attending follow-up visits
- Tracking your numbers at home
You may not feel different when your blood pressure improves. Regular monitoring helps confirm that treatment is working.
To help prevent hypertension or keep it controlled:
- Stay physically active
- Choose lower-sodium foods
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Limit alcohol
- Avoid tobacco
- Manage stress in healthy ways
Small, steady steps can protect your heart and blood vessels for years to come.
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