High Blood Pressure
The most common heart rhythm disturbance
BACKGROUND
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition in which blood pressure levels are measured above the normal ranges.
Blood pressure is the force of blood in your arteries. Your blood pressure is high if it is 140/90 or higher. If you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, 130/80 or higher is considered high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart attack, angina, stroke, kidney failure, and peripheral artery disease. High blood pressure can also cause arteries to age and lose elasticity faster that normal. High blood pressure may also increase the risk of developing fatty deposit in arteries (known as atherosclerosis). The risk of heart failure also increases due to the increased workload that high blood pressure places on the heart.
