You may be more likely to have high blood pressure due to your genetics, age, and whether you have certain health conditions. Treatment may include medication and lifestyle changes.

Your blood pressure measurement takes into account the amount of blood passing through your blood vessels and the amount of resistance the blood meets while the heart is pumping.

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.

Narrow arteries create more resistance for blood flow out of the heart. The narrower your arteries, 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 guidelines changed in 2017, nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association.

Hypertension typically develops over several years, usually without causing 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 a doctor notice any changes. If your blood pressure is elevated, a doctor may have you check your blood pressure over a few weeks to see if the number stays elevated or falls back to typical levels.

Treatment for hypertension includes both prescription medication and healthy lifestyle changes. Without treatment, it could lead to health issues, including heart attack and stroke.

  • Systolic pressure (top number): the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats and pumps out blood
  • Diastolic pressure (bottom number): the pressure in your arteries between beats of your heart
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Five categories define blood pressure readings for adults:

  • Healthy: A healthy blood pressure reading is a systolic pressure of less than 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and a diastolic pressure of less than 80 mm Hg. This is typically written as 120/80 or spoken as “120 over 80.”
  • Elevated: The systolic number is between 120 and 129 mm Hg, and the diastolic number is less than 80 mm Hg. Doctors usually don’t treat elevated blood pressure with medication. Instead, they may encourage lifestyle changes to help lower your numbers.
  • Stage 1 hypertension: The systolic number is between 130 and 139 mm Hg, or the diastolic number is between 80 and 89 mm Hg.
  • Stage 2 hypertension: The systolic number is 140 mm Hg or higher, or the diastolic number is 90 mm Hg or higher.
  • Hypertensive crisis: The systolic number is over 180 mm Hg, or the diastolic number is over 120 mm Hg. Blood pressure in this range requires urgent medical attention. If symptoms, such as chest pain, headache, shortness of breath, or visual changes occur when blood pressure is this high, medical care in an emergency department is needed.

A blood pressure reading is taken with a pressure cuff. It’s important to have a cuff that fits for an accurate reading. An ill-fitting cuff may deliver inaccurate readings.

Blood pressure readings are different for children and teenagers. Ask your child’s doctor for the healthy ranges for your child if you need to monitor their blood pressure.

There are two types of hypertension. Each type has a different cause.

Essential (primary) hypertension

Essential hypertension, also called primary hypertension, develops over time. Most people have this type of high blood pressure.

A combination of factors typically play a role in the development of essential hypertension:

  • Genes: Some people are genetically predisposed to hypertension. This may be from gene mutations or inherited from your parents.
  • Age: People over 65 years old are more at risk for hypertension.
  • Race: Black people have a higher incidence of hypertension in the United States. Research suggests that systemic, cultural, and genetic factors contribute to this inequity.
  • Living with obesity: Living with obesity can lead to a few cardiovascular issues, including hypertension.
  • High alcohol consumption: Research shows that even one drink per day can increase your risk of hypertension, with higher alcohol consumption further increasing your risk.
  • Living a sedentary lifestyle: Sedentary behaviors have links to several cardiovascular issues, including hypertension.
  • Living with diabetes or metabolic syndrome: People diagnosed with either diabetes or metabolic syndrome are at a higher risk of developing hypertension.
  • High sodium intake: There’s a close link between daily high sodium intake (more than 5 grams a day) and hypertension.

Secondary hypertension

Secondary hypertension often occurs quickly and can become more severe than primary hypertension. Several conditions that may cause secondary hypertension include:

Secondary hypertension may also be a side effect of certain medications.

Hypertension is generally a silent condition. Many people won’t experience any symptoms. It may take years or even decades for the condition to reach levels severe enough that symptoms become apparent. Even then, some people may attribute these symptoms to other causes.

Getting regular blood pressure readings is the best way to know if you have hypertension. Most doctors’ offices take a blood pressure reading at every appointment.

Symptoms of severe hypertension, such as in a hypertensive crisis, can include:

  • headaches
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • visual disturbances
  • chest or back pain
  • difficulty breathing

Because hypertension is often a silent condition, it can cause damage to your body for years before symptoms become obvious. Without treatment, you may face serious, even fatal, complications.

Hypertension can damage your arteries, making them tougher, tighter, and less elastic. This damage makes it easier for deposits to collect in your arteries and restrict blood flow through your body, affecting multiple systems.

Complications of hypertension include:

High blood pressure during pregnancy

People with hypertension may be more likely to experience challenges during pregnancy or childbirth, including:

Some people may develop hypertension during pregnancy. This often resolves once the baby is born. However, developing hypertension during pregnancy may increase your risk of developing hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions later in life.

Read more: “Controlling Blood Pressure in Preeclampsia”

Diagnosing hypertension is as simple as taking a blood pressure reading. Most doctors’ offices check blood pressure as part of a routine visit. If you don’t receive a blood pressure reading at your next appointment, feel free to request one.

If your blood pressure is elevated, a doctor may request more readings over the course of a few days or weeks. Doctors rarely diagnose hypertension after just one reading. They’ll need to see evidence of a sustained problem.

That’s because your environment can contribute to increased blood pressure, like the stress you may feel by being at the doctor’s office (known as “white coat syndrome”). Also, blood pressure levels change throughout the day.

If your blood pressure remains high, a doctor will likely conduct more tests to rule out underlying conditions. These tests can include:

If a doctor diagnoses you with primary hypertension, lifestyle changes may help reduce your high blood pressure. If lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough, or if they stop being effective, they may prescribe medication.

Medications for hypertension

Many people go through a trial-and-error phase with blood pressure medications. A doctor may need to try different medications until they find one or a combination that works for you.

Some of the medications used to treat hypertension include:

Treating secondary hypertension

If a doctor discovers an underlying issue causing your hypertension, treatment will focus on that other condition. For example, if a medication you’ve started taking is causing increased blood pressure, your doctor will try other medications that don’t have this side effect.

Sometimes, hypertension is persistent despite treatment for the underlying cause. In this case, a doctor may work with you to develop lifestyle changes and prescribe medications to help reduce your blood pressure.

Treatment plans for hypertension often evolve. What worked at first may become less useful over time. Your doctor will continue to work with you to refine your treatment.

Healthy lifestyle changes can help you control the factors that cause hypertension. Experts recommend the following:

If you have risk factors for hypertension, you can take steps now to lower your risk for the condition and its complications, such as:

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common health issue in the United States. Treatment for hypertension varies depending on factors such as the severity of your condition and which medications a doctor thinks will work best for you.

In many cases of hypertension, lifestyle changes can be powerful tools for managing — or even reversing — high blood pressure. These changes include incorporating more nutritious fruits and vegetables into your diet, getting more physical activity, limiting your sodium intake, and limiting your alcohol consumption.

Because hypertension often presents with no symptoms, checking your blood pressure regularly is important. Severe hypertension can cause serious health issues, so the sooner you receive a diagnosis, the sooner you can begin to manage it.