High blood pressure increases the risk of an individual developing heart disease, kidney disease, hardening of the arteries eye damage, and stroke. Complications that arise from hypertension are often referred to as end-organ damage because damage to these organs is the end result of chronic high blood pressure.



High blood pressure could result in an elevation of both the systolic and diastolic pressure. Normal pressure is 120/80 and below. Pre hypertension is considered a blood pressure of around 139/89 and hypertension is pressure above 140/90.

Hypertension can be caused by a number of factors including stress. For several individuals, hypertension is hereditary factor. There are two forms of hypertension- essential high blood pressure and secondary high blood pressure.

Essential hypertension is caused by factors including genetic factors. Some ethnicities are also more prone to hypertension. More than 95 per cent of Americans who have high blood pressure is caused by essential hypertension factors. Secondary hypertension is caused by a specific abnormality in one of the organs or systems of the body. It affects a much smaller population of people.

Some individuals suffer from borderline high blood pressure. Patients with borderline high blood pressure need to have their blood pressure taken on several different occasions and their end-organ damage assessed in order to establish whether their hypertension is significant. There is some research to show that borderline high blood pressure could lead to hypertension as the individual grows older.

White coat hypertension is borderline high blood pressure in individuals in specific situations. Blood pressure of some individuals rises when they feel pressured or are under strain. However, at most other times the blood pressure of these individuals is normal. This is referred to as white coat hypertension. Research shows that one out of every four people who visit the doctor's office experience this kind of hypertension.

Isolated systolic high blood pressure is the isolated rise of the systolic pressure without any corresponding rise of the diastolic pressure. Isolated systolic hypertension is associated with a 2 to 4 time increased future risk of an enlarged heart, myocardial infarction, stroke, and death from heart disease or a stroke.

Measuring and monitoring blood pressure is essential for the well being of many individuals. With the advances in digital blood pressure monitors, individuals can easily detect if they have high blood pressure.