What's high blood pressure?

For most people, their blood pressure has to lie between 90 and 140mmHg. If your blood pressure is higher than this, you have an elevated blood pressure. You can measure the mmHg with a blood pressure monitor. For young children, senior citizens, and people with health complications, there are different guidelines. When in doubt, contact your doctor.

If you have a high blood pressure, your blood vessels are under pressure for a long time. Your heart has to work harder to pump the blood through your body, which can damage your heart and other organs. The walls of your blood vessels can also be damaged by the pressure and cholesterol can build up. This narrows your blood vessels. Narrow blood vessels increase the risk of a heart attack or a stroke. That's because your heart muscle gets thicker and more stiff the harder it needs to work. The strength of your heart decreases, which results in heart failure.

For many people, the cause of high blood pressure is unknown. The risk of high blood pressure does increase after 40 years old. That's because your blood vessels get more rigid the older you get. The risk of high blood pressure is also greater if you smoke, ingest a lot of salt, are overweight, don't exercise often, drink alcohol, and have a lot of stress.

Prolonged stress can indirectly cause high blood pressure. That's often because you start to drink or smoke more or exercise less in stressful situations. This can all cause high blood pressure.

High blood pressure, stress, and adrenaline are mainly linked in the short term. If you're stressed, the adrenaline makes your blood pump faster. This results in temporary high blood pressure. Stress hasn't yet been proven as a cause for long-term high blood pressure

Many people don't notice anything of high blood pressure. This doesn't mean it doesn't come with health risks like an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, a stroke, or a heart attack. That's why it's important to regularly check your own blood pressure.

When you have a high blood pressure for a long time or if your blood pressure if far above 140mmHg, you might notice these symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Restlessness.

When in doubt, always contact your doctor.

For a slight increase in blood pressure, you often only have to change your lifestyle. You can do the following to lower your blood pressure.

• Quit smoking and drink less alcohol.
• Eat less salt and fat. Avoid products with Glycyrrhizin, like licorice. This increases your blood pressure.
• Exercise at least 2.5 hours per week.
• Reduce tension and stress.

Always contact your doctor to be sure.