You might wonder why high blood pressure is a health concern. Chronic hypertension can lead to serious health concerns, such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. Risk factors for high blood pressure include being overweight, being physically inactive, and having a high sodium intake -- all of which add up to why high blood pressure is a health concern.
Why High Blood Pressure Is a Health Concern: An Introduction
Blood pressure is the amount of force (pressure) that blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels as it passes through them. As blood is pumped from your heart into your blood vessels, enough pressure is created to send it to all other parts of your body. As blood vessels travel away from the heart, they branch off and gradually get smaller, just like the branches of a tree. One branch may go to the brain while another may go to your kidneys. Blood pressure keeps the blood flowing through all these branches so that your body's cells get the oxygen and nutrients they need and waste matter can be removed.
(Click High Blood Pressure for more information on blood pressure and how it is measured.)
Why High Blood Pressure Is a Health Concern: Effects of High Blood Pressure
The body structures that chronic high blood pressure affects most include the:
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