High Blood Pessure

High blood pressure occurs when the pressure within blood vessels is consistently too high (an average blood pressure reading of more than 140/90 is considered to be high). Some risk factors for this condition include obesity, being physically inactive, and consuming too much sodium.

 

Most people with this condition have what is known as primary or essential hypertension, meaning that the specific cause or causes of their hypertension are not known. Other people have secondary hypertension, in which case the condition is the result of another medical problem or medicine. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems, such as heart attack and kidney failure.