High blood pressure is also known as hypertension. It happens when the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is too high. High blood pressure can lead to other serious problems such as heart attack and stroke.
Know your numbers.
Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure. Many don’t even know they have it. The only way to know you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. เล่น UFABET ผ่านมือถือ สะดวกทุกที่ ทุกเวลา A diagnosis of high blood pressure will need to be made by a health care professional.
Blood pressure and the circulatory system
Your tissues and organs need the blood your circulatory system carries through the body. Your heartbeat makes this happen by pushing blood through the blood vessels. These vessels include arteries, veins and capillaries.
Blood pressure is the result of two forces. The first force (systolic pressure) happens as blood pumps out of the heart and into the arteries. The second force (diastolic pressure) is created as the heart rests between heart beats. These two forces are each represented by numbers in a blood pressure reading.
When blood pressure is high for too long, it can damage the walls of blood vessels, causing them to develop tiny tears. To fix these damaged areas, the body sends special cells that stick to the site. Over time, substances such as cholesterol and fats may also build up at these damaged spots, forming plaque.
As plaque slowly builds, a process called atherosclerosis, it can make the inside of the arteries narrower. This narrowing can block the flow of blood, further increasing blood pressure.
Preventing and managing high blood pressure
- It’s best to avoid high blood pressure altogether. Healthy lifestyle choices such as not smoking, eating a healthy diet and being physically active can help.
- If you have high blood pressure, work with your health care professional to control it. This may mean taking medications in addition to making healthy lifestyle changes.