High blood pressure damages the vessels that carry your blood. It can make your heart’s job harder, by forcing it to work against greater resistance and pumping more often than it needs to. It has been linked to some kinds of strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, and other problems. People who have high blood pressure are at greater risk for heart attacks or strokes than those with normal levels. People who have both high blood pressure and a family history of early heart disease are at greatest risk. Hypertension can’t be cured (at least not yet). But it CAN be controlled. Most high blood pressure is controlled with diet, exercise and medicine.