Hypertension
- What it is
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is one of the major risk factors for cerebrovascular disease such as stroke and coronary heart disease.
Your blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. High blood pressure indicates that the heart is working harder than it should and the arteries are under great strain.
What is normal blood pressure?
Normal blood pressure can vary
from 90/60 mmHg to 120/80
mmHg in a young and healthy
person. Hypertension is present
when a person’s blood pressure is
persistently above 140/90 mmHg.
If you have diabetes or kidney
disease, you must try to keep
your blood pressure at around
120/80 mmHg because even a
marginally high blood pressure will
increase your risk of developing
complications.
