High Blood Pressure

“There are no obvious signs or symptoms of high blood
pressure, so you may not know you have it.
That’s why it’s important to have regular check-ups to…”.1

Umbrella
What may the High Blood Pressure Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Essential Hypertension
  • High Blood Pressure (HBP)
  • Hypertension
  • Idiopathic Hypertension
  • Primary Hypertension

Blood Pressure

What is blood pressure (BP)?

DotS the definition of BP may vary. The (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) definition is:

“Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body.

Your blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day”.2

High Blood Pressure

What is high blood pressure (HBP)?

DotS the definition of HBP may vary. The British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) definition is:

“The medical term for high blood pressure is ‘hypertension’, and it means your blood pressure is always too high. This means your heart is working harder when pumping blood around your body”.3

Blood Pressure Numbers

What do BP numbers mean?

In High Blood Pressure: High Blood Pressure Symptoms and Causes – What Do Blood Pressure Numbers Mean? the CDC explain:

“Blood pressure is measured using two numbers:

The first number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.

The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.

If the measurement reads 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, you would say, “120 over 80,” or write, “120/80 mmHg””.4

Normal Blood Pressure

What is a normal BP?

In High Blood Pressure: What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) the (United States) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) explain:

“For most adults, a normal blood pressure is less than 120 over 80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), which is written as your systolic pressure reading over your diastolic pressure reading — 120/80 mm Hg”.5

Hypertension

What is hypertension?

DotS the definition of hypertension may vary. In Hypertension the World Health Organization’s definition is:

“Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure”.6

Signs and Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of HBP?

In Blood Pressure and Your Heart: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure? the Heart Foundation of Australia note:

“There are no obvious signs or symptoms of high blood pressure, so you may not know you have it. That’s why it’s important to have regular check-ups to measure your blood pressure levels and learn how to manage it”.7

Common or Not

How common is HBP?

In the United States in according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

“Approximately 1 in 3, more than 100 million, American adults have high blood pressure. But only half of those people have their condition under control. Many people develop high blood pressure when they are in their late 30’s or early 40’s, and it occurs more frequently as people age. However, because of the obesity epidemic, more and more children are also developing high blood pressure”.8

In the United Kingdom (UK), according to the BHF:

“As many as 5 million adults in the UK have undiagnosed high blood pressure and don’t know they are at risk”.9

Cause

What causes HBP?

In High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): What Causes High Blood Pressure? the BHF note:

“In most cases, there isn’t a specific reason for the cause of high blood pressure, but most people develop it because of their diet, lifestyle or medical condition”.10

Alcohol

Is there an association between alcohol and HBP?

In Alcohol: Does It Affect Blood Pressure? the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting temporarily raises blood pressure. Repeated binge drinking can lead to long-term increases in blood pressure”.11

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and HBP?

In High Blood Pressure and Women: Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure and Menopause the AHA’s Go Red for Women note:

High Blood Pressure“While you may have had normal blood pressure most of your life, your chances of developing high blood pressure increase considerably after menopause.

Heart disease risk rises for everyone as they age, but for women symptoms can become more evident after the onset of menopause”.12

In Menopause and High Blood Pressure: What’s the Connection? Is There A Connection Between Menopause and High Blood Pressure? the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Blood pressure generally goes up after menopause. Some health care providers think changing hormones related to menopause may cause blood pressure to rise. Others think an increase in body mass index (BMI) during menopause may be to blame.

Changes in hormones during menopause can lead to weight gain. The changes also can make blood pressure more sensitive to salt in the diet. When this happens, blood pressure can go up. Some types of hormone therapy for menopause also may lead to higher blood pressure”.13

Early Detection

Why is early detection of HBP important?

In High Blood Pressure–Understanding the Silent Killer: Why Is It Important To Know If You Have High Blood Pressure?  FDA explain:

“Early detection of high blood pressure is very important. Often referred to as the “silent killer” because it may show no symptoms, high blood pressure puts you at an increased risk for heart disease, heart failure, and stroke, among other things”.14

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have HBP?

If you think you have HBP, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. The BHF explain:

“The only way to know whether you have high blood pressure is to have it measured. So, it’s important to get your blood pressure checked”.15

In High Blood Pressure: Prevent and Manage High Blood Pressure the CDC reassure us:

“Whatever your age, you can take steps each day to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range.

You can help prevent high blood pressure—also called hypertension—by making healthy choices and managing other health conditions you may have”.16

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to High Blood Pressure?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to High Blood Pressure?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

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  14. Bloodpressureuk.org [Blood Pressure UK]
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  35. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women, United States]
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  76. Mayo Clinic Minute: Menopause and the Heart Connection [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
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  100. Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors: Are They Accurate?

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Blood Pressure and Your Heart: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure? Last Updated: 05 January 2023. Heart Foundation of Australia https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Bundles/Your-heart/Blood-pressure-and-your-heart Accessed: 07 October 2023
  2. High Blood Pressure: High Blood Pressure Symptoms and Causes – What Is Blood Pressure? Page Last Reviewed: 18 May 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm Accessed: 07 October 2023
  3. High Blood Pressure: What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)? Page Last Updated: March 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/high-blood-pressure.aspx Accessed: 07 October 2023
  4. High Blood Pressure: High Blood Pressure Symptoms and Causes – What Do Blood Pressure Numbers Mean? Last Reviewed: 18 May 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm Accessed: 07 October 2023
  5. High Blood Pressure: What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Last Updated: 24 March 2022. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure Accessed: 07 October 2023
  6. Hypertension. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/hypertension#tab=tab_1 Accessed: 07 October 2023
  7. Blood Pressure and Your Heart: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure? Last Updated: 05 January 2023. Heart Foundation of Australia https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Bundles/Your-heart/Blood-pressure-and-your-heart Accessed: 07 October 2023
  8. High Blood Pressure–Understanding the Silent Killer: Who Is Affected By High Blood Pressure? Content Current As of: 01 August 2023. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/high-blood-pressure-understanding-silent-killer Accessed: 07 October 2023
  9. High Blood Pressure: Where Can I Get My Blood Pressure Measured or Tested? Page Last Updated: March 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-blood-pressure Accessed: 07 October 2023
  10. High Blood Pressure: What Causes High Blood Pressure? Page Last Updated: March 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/high-blood-pressure.aspx Accessed: 07 October 2023
  11. Alcohol: Does It Affect Blood Pressure? 20 October 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/expert-answers/blood-pressure/faq-20058254 Accessed: 07 October 2023
  12. High Blood Pressure and Women: Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure and Menopause. American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/why-high-blood-pressure-is-a-silent-killer/high-blood-pressure-and-women Accessed: 07 October 2023
  13. Menopause and High Blood Pressure: What’s the Connection? Is There A Connection Between Menopause and High Blood Pressure? 11 July 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/expert-answers/menopause-and-high-blood-pressure/faq-20058406 Accessed: 07 October 2023
  14. High Blood Pressure–Understanding the Silent Killer: Why Is It Important To Know If You Have High Blood Pressure? Content Current As of: 01 August 2023. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/high-blood-pressure-understanding-silent-killer Accessed: 07 October 2023
  15. High Blood Pressure: Where Can I Get My Blood Pressure Measured or Tested? Page Last Updated: March 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/high-blood-pressure.aspx Accessed: 07 October 2023
  16. High Blood Pressure: Prevent and Manage High Blood Pressure. Last Reviewed: 29 August 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/prevent_manage.htm Accessed: 07 October 2023
Topic Last Updated: 07 October 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 07 October 2023

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