High blood pressure or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease (which leads to heart attack) and stroke, especially when it's present with other risk factors. High blood pressure can occur in children or adults, but it's more common among people over age 35. It's particularly prevalent in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women taking birth control pills. It may run in families, but many people with a strong family history of high blood pressure never have it. High blood pressure is a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher. Nearly 1 in 3 American adults has high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms. Affecting approximately one in four adults in the United States, hypertension is clearly a major public health problem.

High blood pressure typically develops without signs or symptoms. and it affects nearly everyone eventually. There are two levels of high blood pressure: stage 1 and stage 2. It is less common in younger adults. Most cases are mildly high (up to 160/100 mmHg). However, at least 1 in 20 adults have blood pressure of 160/100 mmHg or above. High blood pressure is more common in people with diabetes. About 3 in 10 people with Type 1 diabetes and more than half of people with Type 2 diabetes eventually develop high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a 'risk factor' for developing a cardiovascular disease , and kidney damage, sometime in the future. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but it can cause serious problems with such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. It is estimated that one in every four American adults has high blood pressure. Some people can prevent or control high blood pressure by changing to healthier habits.

Calcium channel blockers may work better for blacks than do ACE inhibitors or beta blockers alone. Some medicines lower blood pressure by removing extra fluid and salt from your body. Others affect blood pressure by slowing down the heartbeat or by relaxing and widening blood vessels. Diuretics are blood magic called water pills. They work by helping your kidneys flush excess water and salt from your body. Beta blockers help your heart beat slower and with less force. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors keep your body from making a hormone called angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to narrow. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are newer blood pressure medicines that protect your blood vessels from angiotensin II. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) keep calcium from entering the muscle cells of your heart and blood vessels. Vasodilators open blood vessels by directly relaxing the muscle in the vessel walls, causing blood pressure to go down.