The first number is the systolic pressure, the pressure inside the arteries when the heart is contracting. The second number is the diastolic pressure, the pressure level during the time the heart muscle is relaxing. Blood pressure is generally viewed as high if it is consistently above 140 systolic and 90 diastolic. A single elevated blood pressure reading DOES NOT mean you have hypertension. The readings must be consistently high.
Hypertension is chronic high blood pressure.
Constant elevated blood pressure can lead to heart disease or stroke. It will also greatly increase your risk of kidney failure or eye problems that could lead to loss of vision. Hypertension can affect anyone, but your chances may be increased if you fall into certain high-risk groups. A family history of high blood pressure is known to increase a person's likelihood of developing hypertension. This genetic predisposition also makes factors like stress, obesity and diet, risk factors for the development of hypertension.