Why is high blood pressure dangerous?

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against your blood vessels. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it is called hypertension (“Hi-pur-TEN-shun”). If it is not controlled, high
blood pressure can cause:

• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Kidney problems
• Heart failure
• Eye problems

Most people with high blood pressure feel healthy and don’t have symptoms. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. Getting your pressure checked can happen with the old-fashioned cuffs or digital machines. Either way you get a reading of your two numbers-systolic and diastolic.

Read more here from our partners at AHRQ.