High Blood Pressure
As blood circulates, it exerts pressure on the walls of the arteries. High Blood Pressure, or hypertension, is characterized by a persistent increase in this pressure, even when a person is at rest. The disorder is one of the most common chronic health problems in the United States. High blood pressure is also the most important risk factor for stroke—the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of disability—and a major risk factor for heart attacks, heart failure, and kidney disease.
If left untreated, this “silent killer,” as High Blood Pressure is often called, is a primary cause not only of stroke, but also of coronary heart disease, heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness. Fortunately, in most cases, high blood pressure is easy to diagnose and is usually controllable with lifestyle modifications (such as diet and exercise) and medication.
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All the articles in the High Blood Pressure and Stroke area are derived from our monthly newsletter, Johns Hopkins Health After 50, and our annual Johns Hopkins White Paper: Hypertension and Stroke.
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