High blood pressure (hypertension) is persistently high pressure in the arteries.

· Often no cause for high blood pressure can be identified, but sometimes it occurs as a result of an underlying disorder of the kidneys or a hormonal disorder.
· Obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, stress, smoking, and excessive amounts of alcohol or sodium (salt) in the diet all can play a role in the development of high blood pressure in people who have an inherited tendency to develop it.
· In most people, high blood pressure causes no symptoms and that it is also call the “silent killer”
· Doctors make the diagnosis after measuring blood pressure on two or more occasions.
· People are advised to lose weight, stop smoking, and decrease the amounts of sodium and fats in their diet.
· Antihypertensive drugs are given if dietary and lifestyle modifications are not successful

For more information please ask a provider at Mountainside Medical Clinic to assist in learning about management of high blood pressure.