Blood pressure is the force with which the heart pumps blood throughout the body. The body often increases and decreases blood pressure depending on the external work it is performing. Physical activities, for example, make the heart beat faster and pump blood through the body at a more powerful rate. Hypertension, defined as chronically elevated blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg, affects nearly 75 million Americans. If left untreated, hypertension can significantly increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral arterial disease. It refers to increased blood pressure due to the malfunction of the organs responsible for maintaining normal blood pressure, which causes blood pressure to reach abnormally high levels and remain elevated. An excessive volume of blood improperly excreted by the kidneys, increased pumping of blood by the heart and constriction of blood vessels cause the body to malfunction. High blood pressure is often called the silent killer because there are no symptoms of the disease, which slowly causes serious damage and puts you at risk of sudden death from stroke or heart disease. It is the most widespread risk factor for the development of cardiovascular and renal diseases. Treatment of hypertension has been associated with a reduction in stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. To prevent hypertension you need to make lifestyle changes. Choosing a healthier diet, avoiding smoking, and adding physical activity to your daily routine can help reduce the rate of abnormal blood flow and reduce the risks of heart complications. Exercise not only improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system, but can also lower blood pressure. The key to maximizing the... middle of the card... there can be a wide variation in cost. Recommendations for particular drug classes are made in recognition that sometimes only alternative drug classes will be available. However, in most cases, using any drug that lowers blood pressure is more likely to help protect patients from stroke and other serious events than giving no drug at all. Once your treatment program becomes routine, whether through lifestyle changes or medications, maintaining lower blood pressure is much easier. High blood pressure is not a problem that can be treated and ignored. It's a condition that you have to manage for the rest of your life. Managing your blood pressure is a lifelong commitment, and reminding yourself of heart failure and stroke preventative measures helps you stay on track with your treatment goals and enjoy the benefits of a healthier life.