Some have it for years without knowing it.

High blood pressure is often called the "silent killer" because, if uncontrolled, it can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure.

The only way to find out if you have it is to have it checked by your doctor. You can also purchase digital blood pressure monitors at your local pharmacy.

You can reduce your risks of these diseases by simple lifestyle changes such as including and/or increasing antioxidants to your everyday diet.

What is Hypertension?

Arteries receive blood from the heart and distribute it to all the cells throughout the body. Veins return this de-oxgenated blood back to the lungs for re-oxygenation.

Blood pressure is the amount of force placed on the walls of the body's arteries when the heart valves open (systolic pressure) and when the heart valves are closed (diastolic pressure).

The medical term is called "hypertension", which means an abnormally high pressure against the interior arterial walls.

Blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg (millimeters of Mercury) systolic pressure or greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure also means that your heart has to work harder.

It can directly increase the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke (which leads to heart attack), especially when present with other risk factors.

Hypertension can happen in children or adults, but it is typically more commonly found in people over age 35.

Statistically, it is found more often in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, people who are obese, people who imbibe too much alcohol and women who take birth control pills.

Some evidence points to a possibility that if you have a family history of this disease, it will increase the likelihood of your having it, also. However, conversely, there are many people who have a genetic propensity (family history) of this disease who never have it.

People who have kidney disease, diabetes mellitus and gout are also more likely to have hypertension.

Hypertension places more work on your heart, which can lead to its becoming enlarged and developing ventricular (problems with the valves opening an closing correctly) and other problems in your body. Eventually, you will feel pain, (angina).

If you have even a little bit of pain in your chest, get it checked out, immediately.

Click this link to learn more about adding heart healthy antioxidant foods to your diet to help you reduce your high blood pressure.

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