About High Blood Pressure

What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?

Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. High blood pressure means that your blood is moving through your arteries at a pressure that is higher than normal. If your blood pressure stays high over time, it can harm your body.

High blood pressure generally has no symptoms—but it still can be serious

High blood pressure is common. About 1 in 3 Americans has it. Plus, you can have high blood pressure and feel fine. But over time it can lead to serious health problems. So it’s important to get your blood pressure under control before other problems develop.

Some people need more than 1 blood pressure medicine

You may have taken a blood pressure medicine—but your blood pressure is still high. Or your doctor may have told you that you need more than 1 medicine to help control your high blood pressure. That means it may be time to change your treatment plan to help you get better results.

Notice and Healthcare Provider Certification

The following information is intended only for healthcare professionals licensed and practicing in the United States and is designed to be an educational aid that supplements and draws upon the professional training, experience, and knowledge of such healthcare professionals. If you are a patient or consumer, or are seeking the information for the benefit of a patient or consumer, please see the patient information section of our site, which has been specifically designed to provide information of interest to patients and consumers.

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