High Blood Pressure: The Uninvited Guest You Didn’t Know You Were Hosting!

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High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when the force of blood pushing through your vessels is consistently too high. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of hypertension, including its symptoms, causes, how it’s treated, and more.

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What is high blood pressure?

Narrow blood vessels, also known as arteries, create more resistance to blood flow. The narrower your arteries are, the more resistance there is, and the higher your blood pressure will be. Over the long term, the increased pressure can cause health issues, including heart disease.

Hypertension is quite common. Since the guidelines changed in 2017, nearly half of American adults could now be diagnosed with this condition.

Hypertension typically develops over several years. Usually, you don’t notice any symptoms. But even without symptoms, high blood pressure can cause damage to your blood vessels and organs, especially the brain, heart, eyes, and kidneys.

Early detection is important. Regular blood pressure readings can help you and your doctor notice any changes. If your blood pressure is elevated, your doctor may have you check your blood pressure over a few weeks to see if the…