High blood pressure threatens your health — and it could threaten your life. It’s a serious health condition that affects about 120 million people living in the U.S.

And you might not even realize you have it.

“High blood pressure is often called ‘the silent killer’ since most people don’t show any obvious symptoms,” says Dr. Catherine Payne, senior medical director for BlueCare. “Complications can develop over years and lead to life-threatening health problems.”

Dr. Payne says it’s important to learn about blood pressure measurement, so you have tools to keep yours from getting too high.

Understanding your blood pressure reading

Dr. Payne: When a health care professional puts the inflatable cuff around your arm to measure your blood pressure, they’re looking for two numbers. Blood pressure is measured as a ratio. The top number is the systolic blood pressure. It measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure. It measures the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats.

There are four categories for blood pressure readings:

• Normal: the top number is below 120 and the bottom number is below 80.
• Elevated: the top number is 120-129 and the bottom number is below 80.
• Stage 1 hypertension: the top number is 130-139 or the bottom number is 80-89.
• Stage 2 hypertension: the top number is 140 or higher or the bottom number is 90 or higher.

So, 110/70 is a blood pressure in the normal range, but 125/70 is considered elevated, or in the prehypertension range. A blood pressure over 180/120 is considered a hypertensive emergency.

You might not show any symptoms of having high blood pressure. Some people experience headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds, but these symptoms many not occur until high blood pressure has reached a very serious level.

The cost of this condition

Dr. Payne: You must take blood pressure seriously. Over time, elevated blood pressure may lead to the development of life-threatening conditions and other health conditions. They include:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Heart failure
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease or failure
• Vision loss
• Sexual dysfunction
• Atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in arteries)

You need to know your risk for developing high blood pressure. One major risk factor: age. As you get older, your risk for high blood pressure goes up. Other risk factors include:

• Family history of hypertension. Your risk is higher if your parents or other close blood relatives have or had high blood pressure.
• Gender. Men are at higher risk until age 64, and women are at greater risk over age 64.
• Race. Black, Asian, and Hispanic adults tend to be at higher risk.
• Chronic kidney disease. People living with chronic kidney disease often develop high blood pressure.
• Lack of physical activity. A sedentary lifestyle can also raise your risk.
• Obesity. Being overweight or obese can put extra strain on your entire circulatory system.
• Unhealthy diet. A diet high in saturated fats and sodium can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure.
• Smoking. If you smoke, it’s time to quit and reduce your risk.
• Other health conditions. Diabetes, high cholesterol and sleep apnea are often associated with a higher incidence of high blood pressure.

Talk with your doctor about your risk profile and how often you should get your blood pressure checked.

What you can do

 Dr. Payne: If you have high blood pressure, there are medications available that can help. Your health care provider will look at your age, gender, overall health, and race to determine which class of medications to try first. If your blood pressure is particularly high, your doctor might want to put you on more than one medication.

You can also embrace some lifestyle changes. Regardless of what your blood pressure is, eating a diet low in fat and rich in whole foods like fruits and vegetables is good for your health. If you do have high blood pressure, a great diet to consider is the DASH diet. It emphasizes whole grains and low-fat dairy, in addition to fruits and vegetables. It also recommends keeping your daily sodium intake below 2,300 mg.

“Limiting alcohol intake and getting regular exercise may help you keep your blood pressure down, too,” Dr. Payne says. “Even walking helps, since it can both help you keep your weight down and help you manage your stress levels.”

More from Dr. Payne on WellTuned

Get more information about specific health terms, topics and conditions to better manage your health on bcbst.com. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee members can access wellness-related discounts on fitness products, gym memberships, healthy eating and more through Blue365®. BCBST members can also find tools and resources to help improve health and well-being by logging into BlueAccess and going to the Managing Your Health tab.