Blood Pressure Control

Uncontrolled high blood pressure (also called hypertension) greatly increases your risk of serious health problems — like heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and dementia.

The sooner you take action to get your blood pressure under control, the sooner you can stop more damage from happening.

Understanding High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Your heart pumps blood through blood vessels in every part of your body. Each time your heart beats, blood pushes against the walls of your blood vessels. Blood pressure measures how hard your blood pushes against your arteries as it moves from your heart to your other organs. When that pressure is too high, it can wear down your blood vessels and harm important organs like your heart and brain.

Blood pressure is measured using 2 numbers:

Systolic blood pressure is the number that’s written on top. It’s the pressure of your blood in your blood vessels when your heart beats.
Diastolic blood pressure is written on the bottom. It’s the pressure in between heart beats.

Health Risks of High Blood Pressure

When your blood pressure is too high, your heart has to work very hard to move blood through your body.

Over time, this can cause serious health problems. You may have heard that uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack. But uncontrolled high blood pressure doesn’t just affect your heart. It harms many different parts of your body, like your brain, your eyes, your kidneys, and more.

But that doesn’t have to happen to you! You have the power to get your blood pressure under control and lower your risk of serious health problems. Control means keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range: consistently lower than 130 over 80. A normal blood pressure reading for people who don’t have high blood pressure is 120 over 80 or lower — so if you can get below 120 over 80, that’s even better.

Heart Attack

When your blood pressure is too high, it causes damage to your heart, which can lead to a life-threatening heart attack.

Stroke

Uncontrolled high blood pressure makes you much more likely to have a stroke — a life-altering event that could prevent you from taking care of yourself and the people you love.

Dementia

Over time, uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause memory loss, brain fog, and even dementia — stealing the brain power you rely on.

Kidney Disease

People with uncontrolled high blood pressure are more likely to develop kidney disease, a condition where your kidneys can’t effectively filter waste and extra fluid out of your body. If you develop kidney disease, you may need to start dialysis — a medical treatment that filters waste and extra fluid out of your body when your kidneys can no longer do so.

Sexual Health Problems

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause sexual health problems, like difficulty getting an erection, enjoying sex, getting pregnant, or staying pregnant.

Control Can’t Wait

Every moment your blood pressure is out of control, it’s doing serious harm to your body — harm that you can’t see.

The good news is that control works! Prioritizing control now gives you the best chance to stay healthy and be there for your loved ones in the long term.

The Facts About Blood Pressure Control

What do we mean by blood pressure control?

Control means keeping your blood pressure numbers consistently below 130 over 80. A normal blood pressure reading for people who don’t have high blood pressure is 120 over 80 or lower — so if you can get below 120 over 80, that’s even better.

How can I tell if my blood pressure is too high?

The only way to know for sure if your blood pressure is high is to measure it with a blood pressure device. Blood pressure changes all the time based on things like how active you are, your stress level, if you’ve had any caffeine, and even your posture. It’s important to measure your blood pressure regularly to keep track of your numbers over time.

How can I get my blood pressure under control?

Getting to control starts with finding the right blood pressure control plan for you — with lifestyle and treatment options that fit your life. For most people, a complete control plan includes 3 things: measuring your blood pressure, taking healthy steps, and staying consistent with treatment. A health care professional can help you make a control plan that works for you.

How can reaching control help me stay healthy?

By keeping your blood pressure consistently below 130 over 80, you can reduce your risk of serious health problems, like heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and even dementia — conditions that can steal your independence, your memories, and even your life.

If uncontrolled high blood pressure is such a big deal, why do I feel fine?

For most people, high blood pressure doesn’t have any symptoms. But left uncontrolled, it does serious harm to your body in ways that you can’t see. You might not notice any changes until it’s too late to prevent life-altering health problems.

Why pay attention to my blood pressure now?

High blood pressure doesn’t always wait to cause problems until you’re older. In fact, many people with uncontrolled high blood pressure start having health problems earlier in life. Getting to control limits the damage to your body. That’s why it’s important to focus on blood pressure control now, even if you feel fine.

Tip:

Be a Role Model

High blood pressure often runs in families. By getting your blood pressure under control, you can show loved ones — especially younger generations — what it looks like to take care of your health and manage blood pressure over time.