How does high blood pressure affect the body?

American Diabetes Association

When your blood moves through your vessels with too much force, you have high blood pressure, or hypertension. Your heart has to work harder when blood pressure is high, and your risk for heart disease and diabetes goes up. High blood pressure raises your risk for heart attack, stroke, eye problems and kidney disease. High blood pressure is a problem that won't go away without treatment and changes to your diet and lifestyle.

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National Academy of Sports Medicine

One high reading does not diagnose you as hypertensive (having high blood pressure). Many facto...

Aggie Read, RN

A healthy blood pressure is generally considered to be 140/90. Those pressures which fall between t...

Jumo Health

The most common symptom of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is shortness of breath, which gets ...

Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

Risks factors for high blood pressure include aging (men reaching middle age and beyond and women pa...

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Hypertension

Clinically known as hypertension, high blood pressure can cause a host of problems if left untreated. The most common type of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure causes our hearts to work harder by forcing blood to push against the walls of our arteries at an elevated level. Hypertension is the leading cause of strokes and heart attack. It also increases your risk of having heart and kidney failure and hardening of the arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis.

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