High blood pressure

Blood pressure is the measurement of how much force is used to pump blood through
your arteries. If you have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, it means the
force is higher than it should be. High blood pressure can damage your heart and lead
to heart disease, stroke, or kidney disease.

There are no symptoms with high blood pressure, which is why it’s often called “the
silent killer.” For more information, read about hypertension.

Atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease

Atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries, occurs when plaque builds up
on the walls of your arteries and eventually blocks blood flow. Plaque is made of
cholesterol, fat, and calcium.

Coronary artery disease indicates that the plaque buildup in your arteries has caused
the arteries to narrow and harden. Blood clots can further block the arteries.

Coronary artery disease develops over time. You can have it but not be aware of any
symptoms. Other times, it may cause chest pain or the sensation of heaviness in the
chest.

Heart attacks

A heart attack occurs when not enough blood reaches your heart. This can happen due
to artery blockage. Heart attacks damage the heart muscle and are medical
emergencies.
 Call 911 or have someone else call if you have symptoms such as:

 pain in the center or left side of the chest that feels like mild or severe discomfort,
pressure, fullness, or squeezing

 pain that radiates from the jaw, shoulder, arm, or across the back

 shortness of breath

 sweating

 nausea

 irregular heartbeat

 unconsciousness

Women often experience heart attacks a little differently, with pressure or aching in their
back and chest.

Heart failure

Sometimes called congestive heart failure, heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is
weakened or damaged. It can no longer pump the volume of blood needed through the
body. Heart failure normally occurs when you’ve had other heart problems, such as a
heart attack or coronary artery disease.

Early symptoms of heart failure include fatigue, swelling in your ankles, and increased
need to urinate at night. More severe symptoms include rapid breathing, chest pain, and
fainting. For more on heart failure and how to recognize it, read about congestive heart
failure.

 Control your blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for
heart disease. It is important to get your blood pressure checked regularly - at least
once a year for most adults, and more often if you have high blood pressure. Take
steps, including lifestyle changes, to prevent or control high blood pressure.
 Keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels under control. High levels
of cholesterol can clog your arteries and raise your risk of coronary artery disease and
heart attack. Lifestyle changes and medicines (if needed) can lower your cholesterol.
Triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood. High levels of triglycerides may also
raise the risk of coronary artery disease, especially in women.

 Stay at a healthy weight. Being overweight or having obesity can increase your

risk for heart disease. This is mostly because they are linked to other heart disease risk
factors, including high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and
diabetes. Controlling your weight can lower these risks.

 Eat a healthy diet. Try to limit saturated fats, foods high in sodium, and added
sugars. Eat plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. The DASH diet is an
example of an eating plan that can help you to lower your blood pressure and
cholesterol, two things that can lower your risk of heart disease.

 Get regular exercise. Exercise has many benefits, including strengthening your

heart and improving your circulation. It can also help you maintain a healthy weight and
lower cholesterol and blood pressure. All of these can lower your risk of heart disease.

 Limit alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure. It also
adds extra calories, which may cause weight gain. Both of those raise your risk of heart
disease. Men should have no more than two alcoholic drinks per day, and women
should not have more than one.

 Don't smoke. Cigarette smoking raises your blood pressure and puts you at
higher risk for heart attack and stroke. If you do not smoke, do not start. If you do
smoke, quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. You can talk with your health care
provider for help in finding the best way for you to quit.

 Manage stress. Stress is linked to heart disease in many ways. It can raise your
blood pressure. Extreme stress can be a "trigger" for a heart attack. Also, some
common ways of coping with stress, such as overeating, heavy drinking, and smoking,
are bad for your heart. Some ways to help manage your stress include exercise,
listening to music, focusing on something calm or peaceful, and meditating.
 Manage diabetes. Having diabetes doubles your risk of diabetic heart disease.
That is because over time, high blood sugar from diabetes can damage your blood
vessels and the nerves that control your heart and blood vessels. So, it is important to
get tested for diabetes, and if you have it, to keep it under control.

 Make sure that you get enough sleep. If you don't get enough sleep, you raise
your risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. Those three things can raise
your risk for heart disease. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Make sure
that you have good sleep habits. If you have frequent sleep problems, contact your
health care provider. One problem, sleep apnea, causes people to briefly stop breathing
many times during sleep. This interferes with your ability to get a good rest and can
raise your risk of heart disease. If you think you might have it, ask your doctor about
having a sleep study. And if you do have sleep apnea, make sure that you get treatment
for it.