When your heart is working well, it sends oxygen-rich blood out to your body through a network of arteries. The force of the blood pushing against those artery walls is called blood pressure. High blood pressure is when the force pushing against the artery walls is stronger than it should be. High blood pressure is also known as hypertension.
A high amount of pressure in the arteries can damage the artery walls. As the damage heals it can turn into thick scar tissue. This makes it harder for blood to move through the arteries—and out to the body. The heart must work harder to do its job of pumping blood.
Over time, this can take a toll on the heart and other parts of the body. Left untreated, high blood pressure can damage the arteries in the body. That can increase the risk for stroke, heart attack, eye problems, sexual dysfunction and more.
Most people with high blood pressure feel fine. That’s why it’s easy to dismiss the impacts of high blood pressure. But high blood pressure can be serious, no matter how well a person feels. Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure. Many don’t even know they have it.
If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, home monitoring can help. Watching trends over time can help you learn more about how your choices impact your blood pressure. Your care team can help use this information to better manage this condition and reduce your risk of harmful complications.