Healthy arteries stretch as the heart pumps blood into them and the pressure increases. As your heart rests between beats your pressure decreases. Blood pressure normally goes up and down depending on your activity and emotions. Blood pressure that goes up and stays up all the time is known as high blood pressure or hypertension. It causes your heart to overwork and results in damage to your arteries.
Hypertension speeds the clogging of the arteries and is the biggest risk factor for strokes.
It also increases the risks for kidney disease. If you have any of the risk factors listed and don't know your blood pressure, please have it checked by a professional. If your reading is high, you should follow-up with a doctor. Many specialists are now recommending doctors use a three to six month trial of diet and exercise for initial treatment of mild hypertension. However, even if drug therapy is needed, changes for healthy daily living should continue.