High blood pressure (hypertension) - Symptoms & causes
Feb 29, 2024 · Increased blood pressure can cause a blood vessel to weaken and bulge, forming an aneurysm. If an aneurysm ruptures, it can be life-threatening. Heart failure. When you have high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder to pump blood. The strain causes the walls of the heart's pumping chamber to thicken.
Hypertension - World Health Organization (WHO)
Mar 16, 2023 · Checking your blood pressure is the best way to know if you have high blood pressure. If hypertension isn’t treated, it can cause other health conditions like kidney disease, heart disease and stroke. People with very high blood pressure (usually 180/120 or higher) can experience symptoms including: severe headaches; chest pain; dizziness
Blood pressure chart: What your reading means - Mayo Clinic
Feb 28, 2024 · High blood pressure is called hypertension. This blood pressure chart can help you figure out if your blood pressure is at a healthy level. It also can help you understand if you need to take some steps to improve your numbers. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). A blood pressure reading has two numbers.
10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication
Jul 23, 2024 · Cooking lets you control the amount of sodium in the food. 5. Limit alcohol. Limiting alcohol to less than one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men can help lower blood pressure by about 4 mm Hg. One drink equals 12 fluid ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.
High blood pressure (hypertension) - Diagnosis & treatment
Feb 29, 2024 · High blood pressure (hypertension) is diagnosed if the blood pressure reading is equal to or greater than 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). A diagnosis of high blood pressure is usually based on the average of two or more readings taken on separate occasions. Blood pressure is grouped according to how high it is.
High blood pressure dangers: Hypertension's effects on your body
Nov 28, 2023 · High blood pressure can narrow and damage the arteries that supply blood to the heart. This damage is known as coronary artery disease. Too little blood flow to the heart can lead to chest pain, called angina. It can lead to irregular heart rhythms, called arrhythmias. Or it can lead to a heart attack.
Hypertension - World Health Organization (WHO)
Mar 19, 2024 · Blood pressure is created by the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels (arteries) as it is pumped by the heart. The higher the pressure, the harder the heart has to pump. Hypertension is a serious medical condition and can increase the risk of heart, brain, kidney and other diseases. It is a major cause of premature death ...
Elevated blood pressure - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic
Feb 19, 2024 · Anything that increases pressure on the artery walls can lead to elevated blood pressure. A buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls (atherosclerosis) can cause elevated blood pressure. But the opposite is also true. High blood pressure (hypertension) can cause atherosclerosis.
Choosing blood pressure medications - Mayo Clinic
Aug 17, 2023 · Alpha-beta blockers. These medicines work similarly to beta blockers. They might be prescribed if you have high blood pressure and are at risk of heart failure. Central-acting agents. These medicines stop the brain from sending signals to the nervous system to speed up the heart rate and narrow the blood vessels.
Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure? - Mayo Clinic
Oct 16, 2024 · Drinking too much alcohol can raise pressure on the walls of blood vessels to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting raises blood pressure for a short time. Binge drinking over and over can cause long-term rises in blood pressure. To understand how much alcohol is too much, it may be helpful to know what excessive ...