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Hypertension, the medical name for high blood pressure, is a common chronic medical problem in the United States responsible for a major portion of cardiovascular disease.

The success in the control of hypertension is generally credited to a combination of improved detection and the use of antihypertensive medication. However, the implications of long-term drug therapy for millions of Americans are unknown. There are documented side effects of the antihypertensive drugs. Thiazide diuretics, for example, can induce short-term increases in serum cholesterol, low density lipoproteins (LDL), and triglyceride levels in some people. These and other risks of drug therapy call attention to the potential benefits of nonpharmaceutical treatment of high blood pressure.

Currently, three non drug methods–weight control, alcohol restriction, and sodium restriction–are recommended as part of the treatment for established hypertension. These measures have also gained support as likely to aid in the prevention of high blood pressure, particularly for those at high risk.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure increases your chance (or risk) for getting heart disease and/or kidney disease, and for having a stroke. It is especially dangerous because it often has no warning signs or symptoms. Regardless of race, age, or gender, anyone can develop high blood pressure. It is estimated that one in every four American adults has high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime.
High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard. It also makes the walls of the arteries hard. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, the first- and third-leading causes of death for Americans. High blood pressure can also cause other problems, such as heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

The causes of high blood pressure vary. Causes may include narrowing of the arteries, a greater than normal volume of blood, or the heart beating faster or more forcefully than it should. Any of these conditions will cause increased pressure against the artery walls. High blood pressure might also be caused by another medical problem. Most of the time, the cause is not known. Although high blood pressure usually cannot be cured, in most cases it can be prevented and controlled.