What is dangerous about high blood pressure?

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High blood pressure (HBP), also called hypertension, is known as the "silent killer" because it has no symptoms. According to the American Heart Association, one in three adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure, but only a third of them are aware of it.

Definition

Blood pressure refers to the force of blood pumping from the heart to your arteries and the force that occurs when the heart rests between beats, according to the American Heart Association.

Effects

The American Heart Association points out that too much force causes vascular weaknesses and scarring, increased risk of blood clots and plaque build-up, tissue and organ damage, and a higher workload for your circulatory system. These factors can lead to strokes, aneurysms and heart attacks.

Breast Cancer Deaths

Research conducted by University of California-San Francisco epidemiologist Dejana Braithwaite indicates that hypertension can cause premature death in African American breast cancer patients. In fact, HBP is responsible for 30 percent of the "survival disparity" between black and white breast cancer sufferers.

Dementia

Lewis Kuller, professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, found that HBP can increase the risk of dementia in older women due to the impact it has on the brain.

Misconceptions

Laid-back people have HBP. The American Heart Association says hypertension has nothing to do with personality traits, such as being hyperactive or tense.

Identification

According to Stony Brook University Medical Center, if your blood pressure is above 140-over-90, you should consult a doctor.

Source:

American Heart Association: What is High Blood Pressure?

Stony Brook University Medical Center: High Blood Pressure

University of California Newsroom: High blood pressure linked to earlier death among African-American breast cancer patients

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What is dangerous about high blood pressure?

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