I’m concerned I may have high blood pressure,
what do I need to know?

What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pumped from the heart against the blood vessels. This force makes blood flow possible, delivering nutrients and oxygen to organs and tissues throughout the body.

High blood pressure occurs when there is too much pressure in your blood vessels. This can damage your blood vessels and cause health problems. Anyone can develop high blood pressure, but it becomes more common as you get older.

High blood pressure is similar to pumping too much air into a tire or balloon

How does someone develop high blood pressure?

Some causes for high blood pressure can be managed, others are beyond your control. Talk to your doctor to learn more about what you can do.

Causes you can control:

What is my blood pressure number and what does it mean?

The first step in understanding high blood pressure is learning what your numbers mean. Blood pressure is measured with two numbers: systolic (the higher number) and diastolic (the lower number) (e.g., 120/80 mmHg):

• Systolic pressure occurs when your heart contracts.
• Diastolic pressure occurs when your heart relaxes and fills with blood.
• Blood pressure is measured using millimetres of mercury (mmHg), which is a standardized measurement of pressure.

The higher your systolic or diastolic blood pressure – and the longer it stays high – the greater the potential damage to your blood vessels