High blood pressure and hypertension

1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure. Get checked today!

About blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into the arteries (blood vessels), which carry the blood throughout the body. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. Blood pressure can be controlled, through lifestyle change and/or medication. High blood pressure can have serious health consequences like stroke or heart attack.

Get it checked

The first step to having a healthy blood pressure is getting your blood pressure checked. Your blood pressure consists of two numbers the systolic number (upper number) and the diastolic number (lower number). The systolic measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, the diastolic number measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats. A normal blood pressure should be 120/80 but check with your doctor for your personal goal. High blood pressure is often referred to as the “silent-killer” because there are no symptoms. Many adults don't know they have high blood pressure. Check your blood pressure today!

Additional resources

Please consult your doctor for your personal blood pressure goal. Here are some additional resources on high blood pressure and blood pressure management:

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