High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is when your blood pressure, the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels, is consistently too high. Blood pressure is determined by two things: the amount of blood the heart pumps and how hard it is for the blood to move through the arteries. High blood pressure can damage your health in many ways, including increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious health problems.

The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association define high blood pressure as a blood pressure reading of 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or higher. Blood pressure higher than 180/120 mm Hg is considered a hypertensive emergency or crisis, and emergency medical help should be sought for anyone with these blood pressure numbers.

High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. It is important to have your blood pressure checked at least every two years starting at age 18, and some people need more frequent checks.

To survive and function properly, your tissues and organs need the oxygenated blood that your circulatory system carries throughout the body. When the heart beats, it creates pressure that pushes blood through a network of tube-shaped blood vessels, which include arteries, veins, and capillaries. This pressure, blood pressure, is the result of two forces: the first force (systolic pressure) occurs as blood pumps out of the heart and into the arteries that are part of the circulatory system, and the second force (diastolic pressure) is created as the heart rests between heartbeats. These two forces are each represented by numbers in a blood pressure reading.

In summary, high blood pressure is a condition where the force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is consistently too high, and it can lead to serious health problems. It is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly, as it is often asymptomatic.