Facts About High Blood Pressure

• Blood Pressure is the measurement of pressure of the blood flowing through your blood vessels (called arteries) against the vessel walls.
• The exact cause of 90-95% of all high blood pressure cases is unknown.
• Nearly one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure, but because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don't know they have it.
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. This is why high blood pressure is often called the "silent killer." The only way to tell if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked.
• The rate of hypertension is twice as high among blacks as whites in the United States. Women of all races are afflicted by this disorder far less than men.
• Main reasons for high blood pressure are: hereditary, mental tension, excess intake of common salt, over-weight, sedentary life- style, smoking and excess intake of alcohol.
• Only 27% of all hypertensive patients have their blood pressure controlled.
• There is no cure for most cases of high blood pressure. But 90-95% of cases are treatable through lifestyle changes and medication.
• Researchers have found that blood pressure is typically 3-5 mmHg higher during the winter months than during the summer months. This may be related to changes in diet, exercise or the temperature.
• Excessive salt intake can aggravate high blood pressure by causing water retention, which makes your heart work harder than it should.