Hypertension – What is it and What can you do About it?

Blood pressure is the force of blood against your artery walls as it circulates through your body. Your blood pressure varies throughout the day, but it can cause health problems if it stays in a high range.

Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg, but those numbers have changed over the years. Your doctor may also have a different benchmark for you depending on your age, health and other factors. It's a good idea to ask your health care provider what your target is.

While anything over 120/80 mm Hg is considered high blood pressure, there are other measures you should be aware of:

• Stage 1 hypertension is 130 to 139/80 to 89.
• Stage 2 hypertension is 140/90 or higher.
• A reading of 180/120 or higher is called a “hypertensive crisis."​ 

A hypertensive crisis is extremely dangerous and requires immediate medical attention. ​

How Do You Check Your Blood Pressure?

If you don't have high blood pressure now, chances are you will at some point in your life.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about nine out of 10 Americans will develop hypertension.

Hypertension raises the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, and other serious health issues. The higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk.

There are several conditions that raise the risk of hypertension, like diabetes, chronic kidney disease and thyroid issues. These four factors may also raise your blood pressure risk:

• age – According to the CDC, hypertension risk increases with age, from 22.4% for adults 18–39 to 54.5% for people 40–59. It goes to 74.5% for people 60 and older.
• gender – Men are more likely to have high blood pressure before age 55, while women are more likely after menopause.
• ethnicity – African Americans are at a higher risk for hypertension, and it's been shown to develop earlier than in other ethnicities.
• family history – Does high blood pressure run in your family? That could put you at higher risk, especially when combined with unhealthy lifestyle choices.

Then there are the risk factors you can control:

• your weight – Being overweight or obese makes you more likely to develop high blood pressure and puts more strain on the heart.Even a small weight loss can reduce your risk.
• your activity level – The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week.
• your diet – Too much salt can cause you to retain fluid, which increases blood pressure. Limiting fat and cholesterol can also help you stay healthy.
• your stress level – When your stresslevel is high, it can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure.
• your drinking – Alcohol has been shown to raise the risk of hypertension, especiallyin men.
• your smoking – Using tobacco or vaping has a short-term effect on blood pressure, raising it immediately. Over time, this can cause damage to the blood vessel walls and increase hardening of the arteries.
• pregnancy – Sometimes pregnancy causes high blood pressure. Pregnancy-induced hypertension can potentially turn into preeclampsia, a dangerous condition that can be life threatening. If you're pregnant, your doctor will keep a close eye on your blood pressure, especially if you have other risk factors.
• medications– Some medicines may affect your blood pressure. Your doctor will keep track of any medications and suggest better options that don't impact blood pressure when necessary.