M.D. Former L.A. Rams' Hall of Famer Deacon Jones made a career out of being unstoppable. At 62, he continues to drive himself, working as an actor, radio host, author, businessman and creator of a motivational foundation for underprivileged children. I was young, and I have to admit, the consequences just didn't resonate with me. It is also a major risk factor for the development of kidney failure, congestive heart failure, dementia, and blindness.
Hypertension occurs when blood presses on the artery walls with too much force.
This may happen when the arteries overly constrict, if the artery walls are narrowed by arteriosclerosis, or if too much blood is pumped out from the heart. As part of a vicious cycle, hypertension significantly accelerates and worsens atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries that occurs from deposits of cholesterol plaques on the artery walls. The systolic reading represents the maximum pressure exerted when the heart contracts. Diastolic measures the minimum pressure on the arteries when the heart is at rest. Affects two-thirds of the population by age 60.