AgePage

National Institute on Aging

High Blood

Pressure

You can have high blood pressure, 

or hypertension, and still feel just fine. 

That’s because high blood pressure 

does not cause signs of illness that 

you can see or feel. But, high blood 

pressure, sometimes called “the silent 

killer,” is a major health problem. If 

high blood pressure isn’t controlled 

with lifestyle changes and medicine, 

it can lead to stroke, heart disease, 

eye problems, or 

kidney failure.

What Is Blood 

Pressure?

Blood pressure 

is the force of blood pushing 

against the walls of arteries. 

When the doctor measures your 

blood pressure, the results are given 

in two numbers. The first number, 
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You could have prehypertension if your 

blood pressure is only slightly higher 

than normal—for example, the first 

number (systolic) is between 120 and 

139, or the second number (diastolic) 

is between 80 and 89. Prehypertension 

can put you at risk for developing 

high blood pressure. Your doctor will 

probably want you to make changes in 

your day-to-day habits to try and lower 

your blood pressure. 

What If Just The First Number 

Is High?

For older people, the first number 

(systolic) often is 140 or greater, but 

the second number (diastolic) is less 

than 90. This problem is called isolated 

systolic hypertension. Isolated systolic 

hypertension is the most common form 

of high blood pressure in older people, 

and it can lead to serious health 

called systolic pressure, measures the 

pressure when your heart beats. The 

second number, called diastolic pressure, 

measures the pressure while your 

heart relaxes between beats. Normal 

blood pressure is a systolic pressure of 

less than 120 and a diastolic pressure 

of less than 80.

Do You Have High Blood 

Pressure?

One reason to have regular visits 

to the doctor is to have your blood 

pressure checked. The doctor will say 

your blood pressure is high when it 

measures 140/90 or higher at two or 

more checkups. He or she may ask you 

to check your blood pressure at home 

at different times of the day. If the 

pressure stays high, the doctor may 

suggest medicine, changes in your 

diet, and exercise.

What Do The Numbers Mean?

Systolic Diastolic

Normal Blood Pressure Less than 120 Less than 80

High Blood Pressure 140 or more 90 or more

Prehypertension Between 120-139 Between 80-89

Isolated Systolic Hypertension 140 or more Less than 90

What Do The Numbers Mean?

Systolic Diastolic

Normal Blood Pressure Less than 120 Less than 80

High Blood Pressure 140 or more 90 or more

Prehypertension Between 120-139 Between 80-89

Isolated Systolic Hypertension 140 or more Less than 90
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high blood pressure. The good news 

is blood pressure can be controlled in 

most people. To start, there are many 

lifestyle changes you can make to 

lower your risk of high blood pressure, 

including:

F Keep a healthy weight. Being 

overweight adds to your risk of high 

blood pressure. Ask your doctor if you 

need to lose weight.

F Exercise every day. Moderate 

exercise can lower your risk of high 

blood pressure. Try to exercise at least 

30 minutes a day most days of the 

week. Check with your doctor before 

starting an exercise plan if you have a 

long-term health problem or are over 

50 and have been inactive. 

F Eat a healthy diet. A diet rich in 

fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and 

low-fat dairy products may help to 

lower blood pressure. Ask your doctor 

about following a healthy diet.

F Cut down on salt. Many Americans 

eat more salt (sodium) than they need. 

Most of the salt comes from processed 

food (for example, soup and baked 

goods). A low-salt diet might help 

lower your blood pressure. Talk with 

your doctor about eating less salt. 

problems. It is treated in the same way 

as regular high blood pressure. If your 

systolic pressure is 140 or higher, ask 

your doctor how you can lower it.

Some Risks You Can’t Change

Anyone can get high blood pressure. 

But, some people have a greater chance 

of having it because of things they can’t 

change. These are:

F Age. The chance of having high 

blood pressure increases as you 

get older. 

F Gender. Before age 55, men have 

a greater chance of having high 

blood pressure. Women are more 

likely to have high blood pressure 

after menopause. 

F Family history. High blood 

pressure tends to run in some 

families. 

F Race. African-Americans are at 

increased risk for high blood 

pressure. 

How Can I Control My 

Blood Pressure?

More than half of Americans over 

age 60 and about three-fourths of 

those 70 years of age and older have 
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F High blood pressure may not 

make you feel sick, but it is serious. 

See a doctor to treat it.

F You can lower your blood pressure 

by changing your day-to-day habits 

and by taking medicine, if needed.

F If you take high blood pressure 

medicine, making some lifestyle changes 

may help lower the dose you need. 

F If you are already taking blood 

pressure medicine and your blood 

pressure is 120 or less, that’s good. It 

means medicine and lifestyles changes 

are working. If another doctor asks 

if you have high blood pressure, the 

answer is, “Yes, but it is being treated.” 

F Tell your doctor about all the drugs 

you take. Don’t forget to mention 

over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and 

dietary supplements. They may affect 

your blood pressure. They also can 

change how well your blood pressure 

medicine works. 

F Blood pressure pills should be taken 

at the same time each day. For example, 

take your medicine in the morning 

with breakfast or in the evening after 

brushing your teeth. If you miss a dose, 

do not double the dose the next day. 

F Drink less alcohol. Drinking 

alcohol can affect your blood pressure. 

Most men shouldn’t have more than 

two drinks a day; most women should 

not drink more than one drink a day.

F Don’t smoke. Smoking increases 

your risk for high blood pressure and 

heart disease. If you smoke, quit. 

F Manage stress. People react to 

stress in different ways. For some, 

stress can cause their blood pressure 

to go up. Talk to your doctor about 

how you can lower stress. Exercise and 

getting a good night’s sleep can help. 

If these lifestyle changes don’t 

control your high blood pressure, 

your doctor will prescribe medicine. 

You may try several kinds before 

finding the one that works best for 

you. Medicine can control your blood 

pressure, but it can’t cure it. You may 

need to take medicine for the rest of 

your life. You and your doctor can 

plan together how to manage your 

blood pressure. 

High Blood Pressure Facts

High blood pressure is serious 

because it can lead to major health 

problems. If you have high blood 

pressure, remember:
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F Relax quietly for 5 minutes before 

checking your blood pressure. 

F Keep a list of your blood pressure 

numbers to share with your doctor, 

physician’s assistant, or nurse. 

Take your home monitor to the 

doctor’s office to make sure your 

monitor is working right.

For More Information

Here are some helpful resources: 

National Heart, Lung, and 

Blood Institute

Health Information Center

P.O. Box 30105

Bethesda, MD 20824-0105

1-301-592-8573

1-240-629-3255 (TTY)

www.nhlbi.nih.gov

National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus

Search for: “High Blood Pressure”

www.medlineplus.gov

American Heart Association

7272 Greenville Avenue

Dallas, TX 75231

1-800-242-8721 (toll-free)

www.americanheart.org

F Know what your 

blood pressure should 

be. Don’t take more of 

your blood pressure 

medicine than your 

doctor prescribes. Very 

low blood pressure is

not good, either. Systolic 

pressure that is a lot lower than 

100 may make you dizzy and faint and 

may cause you to fall.

F Do not stop taking your high blood 

pressure medicine unless your doctor 

tells you to stop. Don’t skip a day or 

take half a pill. Remember to refill your 

medicine before you run out of pills. 

If your doctor asks you to take your 

blood pressure at home, keep in mind: 

F	 There are many blood pressure 

home monitors for sale. Ask your 

doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to see 

what monitor you need and show 

you how to use it.

F Avoid smoking, exercise, and 

caffeine 30 minutes before taking 

your blood pressure. 

F Make sure you are sitting with your 

feet on the floor and your back is 

against something.
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National Institutes of Health 

U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services

January 2010

For more information on health and 

aging, contact:

National Institute on Aging 

Information Center

P.O. Box 8057

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057

1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)

1-800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)

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