High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition that affects the body’s arteries. If you have high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder to pump blood. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood the heart pumps and how hard it is for the blood to move through the arteries. The more blood the heart pumps and the narrower the arteries, the higher the blood pressure..
Typically, hypertension is a blood pressure reading of 130/80 or higher. If high blood pressure is left untreated it can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke or other serious health conditions.
“Most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels. You can have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms.”
Symptoms of high blood pressure (hypertension):
- Headaches: Especially early morning headaches or those after exertion.
- Dizziness/Lightheadedness: Feeling unsteady.
- Shortness of Breath: Particularly with minor activity.
- Nosebleeds: Frequent or unexplained.
- Fatigue/Confusion: Persistent tiredness or mental fog.
- Visual Changes: Blurry vision or eye strain.
- Pounding in Ears/Chest: A throbbing sensation in the neck, ears, or chest.
Emergency Symptoms (Seek Immediate Care)
- Severe Headache
- Chest Pain/Tightness
- Difficulty Breathing
- Numbness/Weakness
- Sudden Vision Changes: (like double vision or loss of sight)
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Confusion/Difficulty Talking
Risk factors
- Age
- Race
- Family history
- Obesity or being overweight
- Lack of exercise
- Tobacco use or vaping
- Too much salt
- Low potassium levels
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Stress
- Certain chronic conditions. (examples: Kidney disease, diabetes and sleep apnea .)
- Pregnancy
High blood pressure is a common condition. The World Health Organization estimated 1.4 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide had hypertension in 2024.
Treatment
Lifestyle changes can help lower high blood pressure. These include:
- eating a healthy, low-salt diet
- losing weight
- being physically active
- quitting tobacco/vaping
There are several common blood pressure medicines:
- ACE inhibitors including enalapril and lisinopril relax blood vessels and prevent kidney damage.
- Angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs) including losartan and telmisartan relax blood vessels and prevent kidney damage.
- Calcium channel blockers including amlodipine and felodipine relax blood vessels.
- Diuretics including hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone eliminate extra water from the body, lowering blood pressure.
Overview:
For the millions of people world wide with high blood pressure, it is important to seek treatment from a licensed professional. It is also important to establish a treatment plan, which might include, diet modification, exercise and a medication regimen.
References
Diseases and Conditions. High blood pressure (Hypertension). © 1998-2025 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). http:// Mayoclinic.org/High blood pressure/hypertension. accessed Dec. 30, 2025.
World Health Organization. Hypertension. https:// WHO.int/news- room/fact-sheet. accessed Dec 30, 2025.
