Blood pressure is the measure of
the force generated by the heart as it pumps blood through the arterial system.
This force is expressed as two numbers, such as 110 over 80 mm Hg
(millimeters of mercury). The first number, the "systolic" blood pressure,
represents the amount of force used by the heart to initially fill the blood vessel
circuit; the second number, the "diastolic" blood pressure, is a measure of the
resistance to that force. Combined, these numbers give your healthcare provider a picture
of how hard your heart is working to get blood to the tissues in your body.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is blood pressure that
consistently reads above 140 over 90 mm Hg. Hypertension causes undue stress to the
circulation of key organs, particularly the brain, heart and kidneys. This leads to
increased risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. Hypertension also can cause an
aneurysm, a small balloon-like weakening of the artery wall, which can be
life-threatening.
Hypertension can be especially hard to manage when combined with other disorders, such
as diabetes or obesity.
