Christine Molnar, RN, Case Manager, HHP Blood pressure is the pressure exerted against the walls of the arteries when the heart pumps. The first number expresses the systolic pressure and represents the amount of pressure blood exerts on the artery while the heart contracts. The second number expresses the diastolic pressure and represents the amount of pressure blood exerts on the artery when the heart rests between beats.
Hypertension is blood pressure that remains elevated over a safe level.
High blood pressure means that the pressure required to get adequate blood flow is higher than normal. This causes your heart to work harder than normal to keep the blood moving. When faced with demands of heavy exertion, arterioles particularly in the brain, heart or kidneys can close off, rupture or leak. Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure and kidney damage. The prevalence of hypertension lowers in more physically active adults.