You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without a single symptom. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
Blood pressure is determined 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.
High blood pressure typically develops over many years, and it affects nearly everyone eventually. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.

Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure:
· Smoking
· Family History
· Obesity
· Kidney Disease
· Alcohol
· Stress/Emotions
· Inactive Life Style
· Metabolic Syndrome

Additional lifestyle modifications include:
· Limit alcohol consumption
· Exercise regularly
· Control stress

Ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading at least every two years starting at age 20. He or she will likely recommend more frequent readings if you've already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, prehypertension or other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Children age 3 and older will usually have their blood pressure measured as a part of their yearly checkups.

If you don't regularly see your doctor, but are concerned about your blood pressure, you may be able to get a free blood pressure screening at a health resource fair or other locations in your community. You can also find machines in drugstores that will measure your blood pressure for free, but these machines aren't often calibrated and can give you inaccurate results.


Managing High Blood Pressure:
To control high blood pressure it is essential that you make changes in your lifestyle in conjunction with the necessary medications. Medication will not cure hypertension, but it will control hypertension as long as it is taken on a regular basis. No single medication works perfectly to control blood pressure and each medication has particular side effects.
Choosing a healthy diet is crucial when you have hypertension. Be aware of the types of fats and the amount of salt you are consuming on a daily basis. Avoid foods that are loaded with salt such as, processed and fast foods.