High blood pressure is called “the silent killer” because there are often no symptoms. 

High blood pressure: Aforce to be reckoned with

High blood pressure (also called hypertension) is a life-threatening condition that affects 1 in every 4 Americans over age 18.

• Anyone can get it, and as you get older, the odds of your developing it increase, especially if you are overweight or obese or have diabetes.  That is why it is so important to take steps early in life to prevent it. 
• High blood pressure can lead to other life-threatening illnesses, including the #1, #3, and #9 causes of death in the United States: heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
• High blood pressure is a major cause of complications in pregnancy.

The good news is that high blood pressure can be prevented.

Your numbers are your only warning.

Enlist in this vital mission for a healthier you

National High Blood Pressure Education Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute