What happens if blood pressure stays high

Resources Find an Expert. What is blood pressure? How is high blood pressure diagnosed? Blood Pressure Category Systolic Blood Pressure Diastolic Blood Pressure Normal Less than and Less than 80 High Blood Pressure no other heart risk factors or higher or 90 or higher High Blood Pressure with other heart risk factors, according to some providers or higher or 80 or higher Dangerously high blood pressure - seek medical care right away or higher and or higher For children and teens, the health care provider compares the blood pressure reading to what is normal for other kids who are the same age, height, and sex.

What are the different types of high blood pressure? There are two main types of high blood pressure: primary and secondary high blood pressure. Primary, or essential, high blood pressure is the most common type of high blood pressure. For most people who get this kind of blood pressure, it develops over time as you get older. Secondary high blood pressure is caused by another medical condition or use of certain medicines. It usually gets better after you treat that condition or stop taking the medicines that are causing it.

Why do I need to worry about high blood pressure? What are the treatments for high blood pressure? Start Here. American Heart Association. Diagnosis and Tests. Prevention and Risk Factors. Treatments and Therapies. Living With. These complications include heart disease, stroke, and heart attack. In addition to helping you lose weight if your doctor has recommended it , exercise can help lower blood pressure naturally, and strengthen your cardiovascular system. Aim to get minutes of moderate physical activity each week.

If you regularly consume too much alcohol or have an alcohol dependency, seek help to reduce the amount you drink or stop altogether. Drinking alcohol in excess can raise blood pressure.

If you have risk factors for hypertension, you can take steps now to lower your risk for the condition and its complications. Slowly work your way up to eating more servings of heart-healthy plants. Aim to eat more than seven servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Then aim to add one more serving per day for 2 weeks. After those 2 weeks, aim to add one more serving. The goal is to have 10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Try to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened foods, like flavored yogurts, cereals, and sodas, you eat on a daily basis. Packaged foods hide unnecessary sugar, so be sure to read labels.

People living with hypertension and those with an increased risk for heart disease may be advised by their doctor to keep their daily sodium intake between 1, milligrams and 2, milligrams per day. The best way to reduce sodium is to cook fresh foods more often and limit the amount of fast food or prepackaged food you eat, which can sometimes be very high in sodium. If your doctor has recommended you lose weight, talk with them about an optimal weight loss goal for you.

This can be achieved through a more nutritious diet and increased physical exercise. Employing the help of a trainer or fitness app, and possibly even a dietician, are all methods to help you learn how to make the best choices for your body and your lifestyle. Keep a log of your blood pressure readings and take it to your regular doctor appointments. This can help your doctor see any possible problems before the condition advances.

People with hypertension can deliver healthy babies despite having the condition. People with high blood pressure who become pregnant are more likely to develop complications. For example, pregnant women with hypertension may experience decreased kidney function.

Babies born to birthing parents with hypertension may have a low birth weight or be born prematurely. Some people may develop hypertension during their pregnancies.

Several types of high blood pressure problems can develop. The condition often reverses itself once the baby is born. Developing hypertension during pregnancy may increase your risk for developing hypertension later in life. In some cases, pregnant people with hypertension may develop preeclampsia during their pregnancy. This condition of increased blood pressure can cause kidney and other organ complications.

This can result in high protein levels in the urine, problems with liver function, fluid in the lungs, or visual problems.

As this condition worsens, the risks increase for the mother and baby. Preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia , which causes seizures. High blood pressure problems in pregnancy remain an important cause of maternal death in the United States. Complications for the baby include low birth weight, early birth, and stillbirth. If you develop this condition during your pregnancy, your doctor will closely monitor you for complications. Because hypertension is often a silent condition, it can cause damage to your body for years before symptoms become obvious.

Healthy arteries are flexible and strong. Blood flows freely and unobstructed through healthy arteries and vessels. Hypertension makes arteries tougher, tighter, and less elastic. This damage makes it easier for dietary fats to deposit in your arteries and restrict blood flow. This damage can lead to increased blood pressure, blockages, and, eventually, heart attack and stroke. Hypertension makes your heart work too hard. Your brain relies on a healthy supply of oxygen-rich blood to work properly.

Uncontrolled hypertension may also affect your memory and ability to learn, recall, speak, and reason. But it does lower the risks for future problems. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a very common health issue in the United States.

These include the severity of your high blood pressure, and what medication your doctor thinks will work best for you. Possible causes of resistant hypertension Resistant hypertension may have one or more other underlying medical conditions. In addition to treating resistant hypertension with medications, doctors typically investigate secondary causes contributing factors , such as: Abnormalities in the hormones that control blood pressure.

The accumulation of artery-clogging plaque in blood vessels that nourish the kidneys, a condition called renal artery stenosis. Sleep problems, such as the breath-holding type of snoring known as obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity or heavy intake of alcohol or other substances that can interfere with blood pressure. Monitoring and treatment of resistant hypertension Reining in blood pressure levels begins with the basics, such as understanding your pressure patterns.

Treatment also usually involves a change or addition of medications and investigation of secondary causes — along with key lifestyle changes, including: Eating a well-balanced , low-salt diet Limiting alcohol Enjoying regular physical activity Maintaining a healthy weight Managing stress Taking your medications properly.

People with resistant hypertension should take the right medications, in the right doses, at the right time. DO NOT take medications or supplements that can boost blood pressure, such as diet pills and stimulants, cyclosporine, natural licorice, ephedra and painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen and celecoxib. Related links: Find out more about lifestyle changes you can make to manage your blood pressure Learn what high blood pressure can do to your body.