What Is High Blood Pressure?
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Medically reviewed by Rafle Fernandez, MD
High blood pressure, or hypertension, refers to blood pressure that is consistently higher than the standard normal level. For adults, normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury).
You may have hypertension if your systolic blood pressure (the first number in a blood pressure reading) is regularly above 130 mmHg or if your diastolic blood pressure (the second number) is consistently above 80 mmHg.
Around 47% of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure or are taking medication for high blood pressure. If left untreated, hypertension can increase your risk of a number of health complications over time, including heart disease and stroke.
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
People with high blood pressure typically don’t experience any signs or symptoms. You can have hypertension for years without knowing. Most people find out they have high blood pressure after they get it measured, whether by a healthcare provider or through an at-home test.
However, you can experience symptoms during a hypertensive crisis, which is when your blood pressure spikes to 180/120 mmHg or over. Symptoms associated with a hypertensive crisis may include:
Nosebleed
Severe anxiety or a feeling of impending doom
Shortness of breath
Sudden headache
Chest pain
Back pain
Weakness
Vision problems
A hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 or go to the hospital immediately if you experience any of the symptoms above alongside a blood pressure reading of 180/120 mmHg or more.
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure measures the amount of force used to pump blood through your arteries. Systolic blood pressure measures that force at the moment your heart beats. Diastolic blood pressure measures the amount of force between beats.
Over time, your systolic or diastolic blood pressure may go up if your heart has to work harder and use more force to pump blood to the rest of your body.
Risk Factors
Many genetic and lifestyle factors can contribute to the development of high blood pressure. For instance, having a family history of high blood pressure can increase your risk of having the condition. Other risk factors for developing high blood pressure include:
Not getting enough of certain minerals in your diet, such as potassium
Having anxiety and stress
Having insomnia (lack of sleep)
Having diabetes
Living a low-activity lifestyle
Having obesity
Drinking alcohol excessively
Smoking
Being 55 years or older
How Is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed?
A healthcare provider can diagnose you with high blood pressure by measuring your blood pressure levels. Typically, they will measure your levels by placing an inflatable cuff on your arm and using a gauge to measure your systolic and diastolic blood pressure, along with your pulse.
Your provider may repeat the measurement several times in one visit or over the course of several visits to make sure that the readings are accurate.
If you’re at risk for developing hypertension, your healthcare provider may ask you to take your blood pressure regularly at home using a digital blood pressure monitor.
Stages of High Blood Pressure
There are four stages of high blood pressure:
Elevated blood pressure: 120-129 mmHg systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic. At this stage, you are likely to develop high blood pressure and should take steps to lower your blood pressure and prevent it from getting higher.
Hypertension Stage 1: 130-139 mmHg systolic and 80-89 mmHg diastolic. At this stage, your blood pressure is considered high and your healthcare provider may recommend lifestyle changes and possibly medication to lower your blood pressure.
Hypertension Stage 2: 140/90 mmHg or higher. At this stage, your blood pressure is considered very high and your healthcare provider may recommend both lifestyle changes and medication to lower your blood pressure.
Hypertensive crisis: 180/120 mmHg or higher. This stage is considered a medical emergency and will require immediate care.
Treatments for High Blood Pressure
If you have high blood pressure, your healthcare provider may recommend lifestyle modifications, medications, or both to lower and then manage your blood pressure.
Lifestyle Changes
Certain lifestyle changes may help you manage high blood pressure and prevent related health complications, including:
Lowering your sodium intake to 2,300 mg a day or less preferably 1,500 mg or less)
Avoiding sugary snacks and beverages
Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains, nuts, and legumes
Reducing your intake of saturated and trans fats
Limiting your intake of red meat and choosing leaner cuts when you do eat it
Keeping your alcohol intake within the recommended daily limit. (One drink for women, two for men)
Exercising at least 30 minutes per day, five days per week
Reducing your stress levels and seeking treatment for anxiety if needed
Managing your weight
Quitting smoking
Talk to your healthcare provider about which of these changes are right for you. Together, you can create a plan to implement some of these modifications.
Medications
Sometimes, lifestyle changes alone are not enough to effectively manage high blood pressure. In these cases, your healthcare provider may prescribe one of the following medications:
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
Angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs)
Beta blockers
Calcium channel blockers
If your healthcare provider prescribes medication to lower your blood pressure, it’s important to follow the dosing instructions closely and to take the medication exactly as prescribed. Potential side effects vary by medication but may include dizziness, headache, rash, and fatigue. Talk to your provider if you experience any side effects.
How to Prevent High Blood Pressure
For many people, hypertension is preventable. Several of the same lifestyle changes used to lower high blood pressure can be used to prevent it in the first place.
To prevent hypertension, you can:
Exercise regularly
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
Eat foods high in protein, fiber, and potassium
Lower salt intake
Lower saturated fat intake
Manage your weight
Limit alcohol intake
Stop smoking
Related Conditions
High blood pressure typically doesn’t cause problems right away. However, it can lead to a number of serious health complications over time. These include:
Heart problems: Heart attack, heart disease, angina (chest pain), and heart failure are some conditions you can develop. High blood pressure can damage the arteries and put added stress on the heart, which can impact blood flow to and from the heart.
Stroke: High blood pressure can impact the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain.
Vision loss: High blood pressure can impact blood vessels, including those in the eyes.
Kidney disease and kidney failure: High blood pressure can damage the arteries around the kidneys, which can impact how well the kidneys can filter blood.
Sexual problems: High blood pressure can reduce blood flow to the genitals, which could cause erectile dysfunction in men and low libido in women.
High cholesterol: High blood pressure can damage the arteries and blood vessels, allowing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol to build up in small tears of the arteries.
Insulin resistance: High blood pressure is a risk factor for developing metabolic syndrome, also known as insulin resistance syndrome.
Living With High Blood Pressure
Many people live with high blood pressure without knowing it since the condition has almost no symptoms. However, when left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to several life-threatening conditions, such as heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in the U.S.
Fortunately, high blood pressure is treatable. It’s important to have your blood pressure checked by a healthcare provider regularly so you can be aware of your levels. If you have high blood pressure, you can also get an at-home test to check your blood pressure levels on your own.
Hypertension can often be managed with lifestyle changes, such as eating a diet low in salt and getting 150 minutes of exercise per week. In some cases, your healthcare provider can also prescribe a medication to help lower and manage your blood pressure.
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