Prevent and Control High Blood Pressure: Mission Possible
Key points
- High blood pressure is called "the silent killer" because there are often no symptoms.
- High blood pressure (also called hypertension) is a life-threatening condition that affects 1 in every 4 Americans over age 18.
- National High Blood Pressure Education Program U.S.
High blood pressure is called "the silent killer" because there are often no symptoms.
High blood pressure: Aforce to be reckoned with
High blood pressure (also called hypertension) is a life-threatening condition that affects 1 in every 4 Americans over age 18.
- Anyone can get it, and as you get older, the odds of your developing it increase, especially if you are overweight or obese or have diabetes. That is why it is so important to take steps early in life to prevent it.
- High blood pressure can lead to other life-threatening illnesses, including the #1, #3, and #9 causes of death in the United States: heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
- High blood pressure is a major cause of complications in pregnancy.
The good news is that high blood pressure can be prevented.
Your numbers are your only warning.
Know your numbers
High blood pressure - 140/ 90 mmHg or higher
Prehypertension - between 120-39 and/or 80-89 mmHg
Normal blood pressure - less than 120/80 mmHg
Enlist in this vital mission for a healthier you
National High Blood Pressure Education Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
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