Blood pressure is the amount of force that blood exerts on the walls of the arteries as it

flows through them. When this pressure reaches high levels, it can lead to serious health
problems.

Without treatment, high blood pressure, or hypertension, can lead to grave health
conditions, including heart failure, vision loss, stroke, and kidney disease.

Causes
The heart is a muscle that pumps blood around the body.

It pumps blood with low oxygen levels toward the lungs, which replenish oxygen supplies.

The heart then pumps oxygen-rich blood around the body to supply the muscles and cells.
This pumping action creates pressure.

If a person has high blood pressure, it means that the walls of the arteries are constantly
under too much force.

The risk factors for essential and secondary high blood pressure include the
following.

Age

Family history

Ethnic background

Obesity and being overweight

Some aspects of sex

Physical inactivity

Smoking

Alcohol intake

Poor diet

High colesterol

Mental stress

Diabetes
 Pregnancy

Sleep apnea.

Signs and symptoms

Most people with high blood pressure will not experience any symptoms. People often call
hypertension the "silent killer" for this reason.

However, once blood pressure reaches about 180/120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), it
becomes a hypertensive crisis, which is a medical emergency. At this stage, symptoms will
show, including:

 a headache

 nausea

 vomiting

 dizziness

 blurred or double vision

 nosebleeds

 heart palpitations

 breathlessness

Anybody who experiences these symptoms should see their doctor immediately.

Children with high blood pressure may have the following signs and symptoms:

 a headache

 fatigue

 blurred vision

 nosebleeds

 Bell's palsy, which is an inability to control the facial muscles on one side of the face.

Newborns and very young babies with high blood pressure may experience the following
signs and symptoms:
 a failure to thrive

 seizures

 irritability

 lethargy

 respiratory distress

Complications
Without treatment or control measures, excessive pressure on the artery walls can lead to
damage of the blood vessels, which is a form of cardiovascular disease. It can also damage
some vital organs.

Possible complications of high blood pressure include:

 stroke

 heart attack and heart failure

 blood clots

 aneurysm

 kidney disease

 thickened, narrow, or torn blood vessels in the eyes

 metabolic syndrome

 brain function and memory problems

Ranges
Anyone whose blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or more for a sustained period has stage 2
high blood pressure.

Doctors will define a blood pressure reading under one of the following five categories:

 Normal: Less than 120/80 mm Hg.

 Elevated: 120–129/80 mm Hg. At this stage, a doctor will advise the individual to make
lifestyle changes to return their blood pressure to the normal range.

 Stage 1: 130–139/80–89 mm Hg.

 Stage 2: Over 140/90 mm Hg.

 Hypertensive crisis: 180/120 mm Hg or above.

A person in hypertensive crisis may need a prompt change in medication if they give no
other indications of problems. Immediate hospitalization may be necessary if organ damage
has occurred.