Across all racial groups, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. But when compared to whites, blacks have almost a 2 times greater chance of fatal stroke, 1.5 times greater rate of heart disease deaths, and 5 times greater rate of kidney failure. When your heart beats, it squeezes blood into the arteries and creates pressure in them. When arteries get smaller, it is harder for blood to flow. Your blood pressure can be measured easily.
Blood pressure falls within a range.
High blood pressure can damage blood vessels in various parts of your body. The longer high blood pressure is left untreated, the more likely organs such as your heart, brain, kidneys or eyes will be damaged. Such damage can lead to heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney failure or eye problems. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have it measured. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms.