At any type of doctor visit, you’ll usually get your blood pressure checked. This information helps your doctor better understand the health of your circulatory system (your heart and blood vessels). When your blood pressure gets too high, you may be at risk of health problems.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is very common. In the United States, close to half of adults have this condition — and many don’t know they have it. Globally, an estimated 1.2 billion people are living with high blood pressure. That’s why keeping track of your blood pressure — especially as you age — is so important.

If you’re diagnosed with hypertension, there are steps you can take to manage it and lower your risk of complications.

What Is Hypertension?

Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood throughout your body. Blood pressure measures the force of that blood against the walls of your arteries — the vessels that carry blood away from your heart to the rest of your body. Hypertension happens when that force stays too high over time.

Hypertension can cause serious health issues if it’s left untreated. It increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, which can all be life-threatening. High blood pressure can also damage various organs, including your brain, eyes, and kidneys. More than 670,000 deaths per year in the U.S. are linked to hypertension.

The good news is that there are treatments to help control hypertension and reduce your risk of related health issues.

Measuring Blood Pressure

When your doctor checks your blood pressure, you will hear two numbers. Both numbers describe how strongly your blood is pressing against your artery walls:

• Systolic blood pressure (the top number) measures the force when your heart beats and pumps blood.
• Diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) measures the force when your heart is resting between beats.

Normal Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is considered normal when the systolic blood pressure is below 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and a diastolic pressure is below 80 mm Hg. You may see this written as “120/80 mm Hg,” and your provider may say it aloud as “120 over 80.”

Elevated Blood Pressure

If your systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 129 mm Hg and your diastolic blood pressure is less than 80 mm Hg, you have elevated blood pressure. This isn’t considered high blood pressure yet, but it’s a warning sign. Without lifestyle changes, you’re more likely to develop hypertension in the future.

Stage 1 and 2 Hypertension

Stage 1 hypertension is diagnosed when your systolic blood pressure is between 130 and 139 mm Hg or your diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and 89 mm Hg.

Stage 2 hypertension, a more serious form, occurs when your systolic blood pressure is at least 140 mm Hg or your diastolic blood pressure is at 90 mm Hg or higher.

Hypertensive Crisis

A hypertensive crisis happens when your systolic pressure goes over 180 mm Hg and/or your diastolic pressure goes over 120 mm Hg. This is a medical emergency. Call 911 or get emergency care right away, even if you don’t have any symptoms. Many people don’t feel different, even when their blood pressure is dangerously high.

What Causes Hypertension?

Blood pressure is influenced by two factors: how much blood your heart pumps and how wide or narrow your blood vessels are. It increases when the heart pumps more blood than usual or when arteries become too narrow. Your arteries may narrow due to atherosclerosis, which occurs when fat and cholesterol build up in the arteries.

In most cases, the exact cause of high blood pressure isn’t known. Instead, it often develops over time due to a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. This is called primary hypertension.

Sometimes, high blood pressure is caused by another medical condition. This is called secondary hypertension. It can happen as a result of:

• Thyroid disease
• Kidney disease
• Congenital (present at birth) heart disease
• Obstructive sleep apnea

Certain medications can also cause secondary hypertension, including some over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers, decongestants, and birth control pills. Types of recreational drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, can also lead to dangerously high blood pressure.

Hypertension Risk Factors

Anyone can develop high blood pressure. However, certain factors — including age, race and ethnicity, sex and gender, and family history — can raise your risk.

According to Mayo Clinic:

• Before age 65, high blood pressure is more common in men. After age 65, women are more likely to develop it.
• Black adults are at higher risk of developing hypertension than white adults.
• Having a family history of high blood pressure also increases your risk.

Several lifestyle factors can raise risk too. You may be at higher risk if you:

• Are diagnosed as overweight or with obesity
• Eat a high-sodium (salty) diet
• Don’t get enough potassium in your diet
• Are not physically active
• Have high stress levels
• Drink excessive amounts of alcohol
• Use tobacco or vape products

What Are the Symptoms of Hypertension?

Hypertension doesn’t usually cause any symptoms. This is why many people have it without realizing it. The only way to know for sure is to check your blood pressure regularly.

In rare cases, severely high blood pressure may cause symptoms such as:

• Nosebleeds
• Breathing problems
• Headaches

How Is Hypertension Diagnosed?

If you’re under 40, you should have your blood pressure measured at least every few years. If you’re over 40 or at higher risk, yearly checks are recommended. Your doctor may suggest more frequent readings depending on your health.

Blood pressure is measured using a cuff that wraps around your upper arm. The cuff slowly inflates, putting pressure on your arm. It may feel snug, even a little uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t be painful. As the cuff deflates, it records your blood pressure reading.

You can have your blood pressure checked at your doctor’s office. Many pharmacies also offer machines that can provide readings. Alternatively, you can buy an at-home blood pressure monitor and take your own blood pressure measurements.

One high reading doesn’t automatically mean you have hypertension. To be diagnosed, you’ll usually need high readings at two or more separate doctor visits. Some people have high blood pressure readings only in medical settings due to anxiety. This temporary condition is sometimes called “white coat hypertension.” Talk to your doctor if you think this is a factor in your high blood pressure readings.

If you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor may order additional tests to assess your heart health and check for any underlying conditions that may be contributing to it.

Hypertension Treatments

There are several effective ways to manage high blood pressure. Treating hypertension can help lower your risk of serious complications like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney problems.

If you have elevated blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension, your doctor may advise making healthy lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure levels and stave off more serious health problems. These healthy habits can reduce your risk of more serious health problems:

• Eating a diet containing a wide range of nutrients, including potassium
• Cutting back on sodium and saturated fat
• Aiming for at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Avoiding smoking and vaping
• Getting at least seven hours of sleep each night
• Working toward or maintaining a healthy weight — Ask your doctor what a healthy weight range looks like for your body type and overall health goals.

To adopt a heart-healthy diet, you may want to consult your healthcare team or a dietitian for a nutrition plan. You can also try the Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension (DASH) plan, a diet that can help boost heart health and has been shown to decrease blood pressure.

If you have been diagnosed with stage 2 hypertension or are at an increased risk of heart disease, your doctor may recommend blood pressure medications along with heart-healthy lifestyle changes.

Common medications used to help lower blood pressure include:

• Diuretics (water pills)
• Calcium channel blockers
• ACE inhibitors
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers

These are considered first-line treatments, meaning they’re usually the first medications your doctor will try. If one type doesn’t work well for you, there are other options available.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyHeartDiseaseTeam is the social network for people living with heart disease and their loved ones. On MyHeartDiseaseTeam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with heart disease.

Do you have hypertension? How do you manage it? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.