High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no signs. High blood pressure is a problem that won't go away without help and changes to your diet and lifestyle. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makesthe heart work too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Risk

It raises the risk of stroke and heart disease, which are the first- and third-leading causes of death among Americans. An elevation of the systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart (cardiac) disease, kidney (renal) disease, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke (brain damage). The higher the diastolic blood pressure the greater the risk for heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.

Regular exercise can help prevent high blood pressure, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. To reduce the risk of injury while exercising, start slowly.The risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) increases with age.

People who drink a lot of alcoholor take illegal drugs like amphetamines and cocaine are also at risk of developing the condition. Smoking and high blood pressure are major risk factors for having a heart attack or stroke later in life. People who manage their high blood pressure with a treatment program lower their risk of having serious complications as they get older.

Elevated blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, the main cause of death in the United States. According to research studies, the risk of dying of a heart attack is directly tied to blood pressure,primarily systolic hypertension. The higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk, even with blood pressure in the normal range.

Have your blood pressure checked at each regular health care visit, or at least once every 2 years (people without diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease). High blood pressure also increases the risk of "embolism:" the production of tiny blood clots that form when blood flow is abnormal and can get stuck in an assortment of inopportune locations including the brain. If your blood pressure is higher than 120/80, and you have other risk factors, like diabetes, you may need treatment.

Treatment

Treatment starts with changes you can make to your lifestyle to help reduce your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease . The key for any highblood pressure treatment is to bring the condition under proper control. If your blood pressure is often greater than 140/90, you may need medical treatment. Blood Pressure Treatment Usually Fails: More than 43 million Americans have high blood pressure (hypertension), but less than one-third of them have achieved targeted levels of blood pressure

CONSIDER THESE KEY POINTS The biggest problem with treatment of high blood pressure is not a lack of knowledge about it, but a lack of the application of our current knowledge. However, high blood pressure is easily detected and usually can be controlled. Unmanaged high blood pressure is indirectly responsible for many deaths and disability resulting from stroke, kidney failure and heart attack .