Understand high blood pressure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition that occurs when the blood flow through your veins is hindered, and thus the force of the blood is too high on a constant basis. This can be caused by narrow blood vessels (or arteries) creating resistance against the blood flow. The narrower these blood vessels are, the bigger the resistance, and as a result, the blood pressure is going to be higher as well.
Over time, this increased pressure can end up causing a number of health issues, the most prevalent of which are heart issues, but there are also others such as damaged arteries, issues with the arteries in the eyes and kidneys, and even problems with the blood flow to the brain. Hypertension, as common as it is among American adults, is also extremely dangerous, and it is not a disease that you should write off as nothing serious.
