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This information is provided by an independent source. Merck & Co., Inc. is not responsible for this content. Please discuss any and all treatment options with your healthcare professional. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product.

About High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure has no symptoms that you can see or feel. Having your blood pressure checked is the only way to know if it is high.

Blood pressure refers to the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Blood pressure rises and falls throughout the day. When the pressure does not go down over time, it is called high blood pressure, or hypertension.

Untreated hypertension may result in serious illnesses, such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke and kidney failure, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all people 21 years old and older get their blood pressure checked regularly. If you have normal blood pressure (below 140/85 mm Hg), you should get yours checked every two years. If your diastolic pressure (the second number in a blood pressure reading) is 85 to 89 mm Hg, you should get your blood pressure checked every year.

You are at higher risk for developing hypertension if you:

  • Are 60 years old or older
  • Are overweight
  • Have a family history of high blood pressure
  • Have high-normal blood pressure
Optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg; normal blood pressure is less than 130/85 mm Hg. High-normal is considered 130-139/85-89 mm Hg. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is 140/90 or higher.

Steps to take
Talk to your doctor if you have a blood pressure greater than 120/80 mm Hg. Weight loss, diet and lifestyle changes may be enough to control mildly elevated blood pressure. Drug therapy is also available. Talk to your doctor to see if such therapy may be appropriate for you. Your doctor is your best source of information if you have elevated blood pressure and a chronic medical condition or other health problem.

The following lifestyle choices can help reduce your blood pressure:
Don't smoke. Inhaling cigarette smoke can stimulate your heart, making it beat faster. It also may narrow your blood vessels, causing your blood pressure to rise dramatically.

Maintain a healthful weight. Being overweight increases your risk for developing high blood pressure: Blood pressure rises as body weight increases, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Being overweight also is a risk factor for heart disease. It also increases your chance for developing high blood cholesterol and diabetes, two more risk factors for heart disease. To lose weight safely, try to eat fewer foods high in fat and calories and increase your physical activity.

Exercise regularly. Regular aerobic exercise can tone your heart, blood vessels and muscles and keep your blood pressure low. Try for at least 30 minutes of moderate-level activity on most, and preferably all, days of the week. Moderate-level activities include walking briskly; general housecleaning; mowing the lawn with power mower; gardening; dancing; and cycling at a moderate speed. Consult your doctor before beginning an exercise regimen if you have high blood pressure.

Learn to cope with stress. Stress can make blood pressure go up for a while, and it has been thought to contribute to high blood pressure, according to the NHLBI. The long-term effects of stress are as unclear, however, and stress management techniques do not seem to prevent high blood pressure. Stress management techniques may help you control overeating, and in turn your weight. Ideas for reducing stress include meditation, listening to stress-management tapes or doing relaxation exercises.

If you drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. Heavy, regular consumption of alcohol can increase blood pressure dramatically. Experts recommend no more than two drinks a day for a man and one drink a day for a woman.

Limit your salt intake. A diet too high in sodium can cause the body to retain water, which increases the volume of blood in circulation. This increases the pressure in the arteries. Most people eat more salt and sodium than they need, according to the NHLBI. Most people need no more than 2,400 mg of sodium a day, including the sodium found in processed foods, as well as what you add when cooking or eating. That's about a teaspoon of table salt. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may tell you to cut your intake even more.

One way to reduce your sodium intake: Avoid high-salt foods, such as soy sauce, potato chips, corn chips, chicken broth, pickles, canned soups, bacon, ham and many convenience and frozen foods. Other ideas: Purchase no- or low-salt products whenever possible. Avoid adding salt at the table.

Also, increase your intake of potassium, which can help flush sodium from the body. Good sources of potassium include cantaloupe, cooked tomatoes, bananas, baked potatoes, strawberries and summer squash. Experts recommend getting at least 3,500 mg of potassium each day.

Other nutrients important for blood pressure, according to the NHLBI, are magnesium, 500 mg a day; calcium, 1,240 mg; protein, 90 grams; and fiber, 30 grams.

Try to include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet, as well as low-fat dairy products. Try to limit the amount of saturated and total fats in your diet.

If you have high blood pressure, lifestyle changes may not lower your blood pressure enough. If they don't, your doctor may put you on drug therapy. Your doctor is your best source of information on this issue.


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