The blood pressure is caused due to the resistance to the flow of the blood by the arteries. Each time the heart beats, it pushes the blood with sufficient force to make the flow of the blood all through the circulatory system.

Measuring Blood Pressure

When the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries, the blood pressure is the highest and is called the systolic pressure. Between the heart beats when the heart is resting, the pressure falls and to the lowest and is called the diastolic pressure. The doctor measures both the systolic and the diastolic pressures using an instrument called sphygmomanometer. The blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury or mm Hg, where Hg is the chemical symbol of mercury.

It is normal for blood pressure to vary all through out the day depending upon the physical activity and stress levels of a person. Higher physical activity or higher stress level raises the blood pressure. While one is resting and relaxed, the blood pressure is much lower comparatively.

The people who suffer from high blood pressure, make their heart work more as it has to push the blood with a greater force, even though a person might just be resting.

What is hypertension?

When the causes of high blood pressure are not known, it is called as essential hypertension. If the high blood pressure is caused due to a disease or health condition like kidney disease, thyroid disease or any health condition, it is called secondary hypertension.

The essential hypertension cannot be cured or is very difficult to treat as the underlying cause is unknown. However, changing the lifestyle by eating healthy food and exercising high blood pressure can be controlled. The doctors can also prescribe medication to keep the high blood pressure in control.

The treatment of the underlying health condition that causes the secondary hypertension can also cure the high blood pressure in such cases.