High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition in which the force of your blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease. Blood pressure is determined both by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.

If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your heart and blood vessels. This can lead to serious problems, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.

You can have high blood pressure for years without having any symptoms. That’s why it’s important to get your blood pressure checked regularly. If you catch it early, you can treat it and prevent it from getting worse.