Hypertension and management

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a common condition and a leading cause of health problems in Canada if not managed appropriately. Approximately 23% of Canadian adults have hypertension.

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels. It’s measured using two numbers: systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic refers to the pressure felt on the arteries when your heart beats and diastolic refer to the pressure felt when your heart relaxes between beats. When the pressure gets too high, damage to blood vessels and organs can occur.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial in controlling hypertension and preventing heart attacks and strokes. In addition to lifestyle changes, many people need to take medications to keep blood pressure at healthy levels.

Read more about how you can manage hypertension.