Both of these pressures are important in determining the risk of heart attack and stroke, so both will be measured by your doctor. A permanently raised blood pressure leads to an increased tendency to blood vessel damage, and blood clot formation which may result in heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure. High blood pressure affects one in six of us. High blood pressure tends to run in families. Apart from rare exeptions, there is no cure for high blood pressure.
Treatment lowers blood pressure, but when it is stopped the blood pressure rises again.