Professionals always give the systolic number first. The diastolic number is usually listed second. Blood pressure varies considerably during the course of an average day. About 10 percent of the adult population or about 2 million people in Canada are known to have high blood pressure. But there are many who have high blood pressure and do not know it.
Many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing it.
It is a killer, all the same. because it greatly increases the risk of both heart attack and stroke and can result in damage to the kidneys. The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. Your doctor, or other qualified health professionals should check your blood pressure at least once every two years. Risk Factors People who have a family history of hypertension, who are diabetic, overweight, or of black ancestry are at higher risk of developing hypertension. On-going research funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation is looking at a number of factors influencing the blood vessels that could be involved in the development and maintenance of high blood pressure, including circuits in the brain, the release of certain hormones, changes in the blood vessels, and so on.