High Blood Pressure: the Basics

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Like any other serious health condition, hypertension (high blood pressure) is complicated. Doctors go to school for a long time to understand the intricacies of the body, and even they get stumped from time to time.

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read about your health -- being an informed patient doesn't take much time, and it can make a big difference. Take this quiz on the basics of high blood pressure to see if you know the common causes and signs.
A healthy adult blood pressure is 140/90.

True

False
False. Normal blood pressure in an adult is less than 120/80.
People with blood pressures over 120-139/80-89 have a condition called prehypertension, which indicates a high risk for developing high blood pressure. Experts recommend these people take aggressive steps to lower their risk -- stopping smoking, losing weight, increasing physical activity, and eating a low-fat diet.
Anyone with a blood pressure measured at 140/90 or higher on at least two occasions officially has high blood pressure.
High blood pressure can cause damage to the brain, eyes, kidneys, and blood vessels.

True

False
True. If left untreated, high blood pressure can seriously damage your body.
The potential consequences include: stroke, vision problems, kidney failure, heart attack, and congestive heart failure. So even when you feel fine, it's important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.
Most cases of hypertension are caused by kidney disease.

True

False
False.
There are two kinds of hypertension: Primary hypertension, in which doctors do not know the cause of the condition, and secondary hypertension, in which doctors CAN identify a cause. Primary hypertension accounts for 95 percent of all cases.
Kidney disease is a common cause of secondary hypertension, but that only accounts for a fraction of the five percent.
Smoking can increase your risk for high blood pressure.

True

False
True. Smoking is a risk factor for high blood pressure. According to the Mayo Clinic, other risk factors that you can control include:
- Being overweight or obese.
- Not being physically active.
- Too much salt (sodium) in your diet.
- Too little potassium in your diet.
- Too little vitamin D in your diet.
- Drinking too much alcohol.
- Stress.
Most doctors suggest changing your lifestyle in addition to prescribing drugs to help treat high blood pressure.

True

False
True.
Making changes in your diet and exercise schedule, together with practicing stress-relieving techniques, can help lower your blood pressure.
Common dietary changes include lowering salt intake and cutting back on alcohol and caffeine.
Regular aerobic exercise may help you, as may losing weight and quitting smoking. Yoga, meditation, biofeedback, and hypnotherapy can be used to reduce stress.

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High Blood Pressure: the Basics

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