Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Is when your blood pressure rises or is outside of the normal accepted range for your age and gender.  If it is untreated it can increase your risk of a heart attack or a stroke. There are no noticeable signs that you may have hypertension so the only way to know is to have your blood pressure checked regularly.   There are two numbers recorded when you have your blood pressure taken.  The top number is called the systolic pressure and this is the speed at which your heart pumps the blood around your body.  The bottom number known as the diastolic pressure is the resistance to the blood floor in the blood vessels.  As a guide the ideal blood pressure for adults below the age of eighty is 120/80 to 140/90.