Hypertension
What is Hypertension? (Also referred to as High Blood Pressure, or HBP)
High blood pressure occurs when the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels, called arteries, is consistently too high. Over time, the swelling and stretching of the arteries can cause damage to the lining of the arteries and allow bad cholesterol (LDL) and white blood cells to enter. Eventually, the cholesterol and cell build up will form plaque. The plaque can break off, forming a blood clot and block the artery, which prevents oxygen from getting to the heart muscle or brain. Measuring blood pressure helps determine how easy or difficult it is for a heart to circulate blood throughout the body. The size of the arteries and amount of blood pumped by the heart will determine whether or not a patient has high blood pressure.
Who is at risk for heart disease?
- Age 55 and older
- Diabetic
- Genetics and family history
- High blood pressure
- Overweight
- Race or ethnicity
- Smoker
If untreated, high blood pressure can lead to:
- Heart attack, angina or both
- Heart failure
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Stroke