High blood pressure or hypertension is known as the 'silent killer.' That's because it usually doesn't cause noticeable symptoms and if left unmanaged can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure. Approximately 50 million Americans (one in four adults) and 1 billion people worldwide are estimated to have high blood pressure. Perhaps what's most frightening about this disease is not only the lack of symptoms but also the fact that experts estimate that about one third of people with hypertension are unaware that they have it. To avoid becoming a statistic, the first step is to have your blood pressure checked regularly.

What is blood pressure?
If you're diagnosed with high blood pressure, your first question may be "What is high blood pressure?" When your heart beats, blood is pushed against your artery walls. This measurement is your blood pressure. When your blood pressure is consistently high, your heart is overexerted and the walls of the arteries are damaged. These problems can lead to atherosclerosis, which can cause more serious complications like coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attack and stroke.

Measuring and managing your blood pressure
A physician or nurse can measure your blood pressure with a blood pressure cuff. What should your blood pressure be? According to the latest studies, blood pressure should be classified as follows:
119 or less/79 or less: Normal
120-139/80-89: Pre-hypertension. (If your blood pressure is in this range, you're at an increased risk for developing high blood pressure, so your physician may recommend lifestyle modifications to reduce your risk.)
140+/90+: Hypertension (Your physician will prescribe lifestyle changes and medication. Your blood pressure and other CAD risk factors should be closely monitored.)

To control your blood pressure, you should:

• Stop using tobacco products and limit exposure to second-hand smoke
• Lose excess weight
• Follow a low-sodium diet (2,400 mg or less of sodium per day)
• Exercise regularly
• Limit or abstain from alcoholic beverages
• Manage stress more effectively
• Take prescribed blood pressure-lowering medications
• Monitor your blood pressure